Introduction

Imagine interacting with software that feels less like using a tool and more like collaborating with a smart teammate. Traditional graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have always been static – users click buttons and navigate menus to get things done. But with the rise of AI and large language models (LLMs), a new paradigm is emerging: agentic UIs. These AI-powered interfaces can understand natural language, generate dynamic responses, and even create new UI elements on the fly to help users achieve their goals. In this beginner's guide, we’ll explore what agentic UIs are, how Generative UI (GenUI) works, and why these concepts matter for teams building modern AI-native software. We’ll also discuss key design principles, practical examples (from LLM UI components to AI dashboard builders), and tools like Thesys’s C1 API that are making frontend automation for AI a reality.

What Is an Agentic UI?

An agentic UI is an interface that behaves more like an autonomous agent or collaborator than a static set of buttons. In other words, the software’s front-end isn’t just a passive dashboard—it actively interprets your intent and takes initiative. One expert describes the agentic UI pattern as treating the product like a “semi-autonomous teammate” rather than a collection of controls.

Key characteristics of agentic UIs include:

Goal Persistence: The UI remembers and works toward user-defined goals over time, rather than forgetting context after each action.
Autonomous Initiative: The interface can surface relevant actions or insights unprompted, based on what it predicts the user might need.
Negotiable Constraints: Users can adjust parameters on the fly without starting over. The UI provides controls that guide AI behavior without requiring perfectly crafted prompts.

In essence, an agentic UI turns software into a smart assistant within the interface itself. It’s not just a chatbot in the corner; the entire UI becomes adaptive and context-aware.

From Static to Generative: How GenUI Changes Frontend Design

Generative UI (GenUI) refers to interfaces that are dynamically generated by AI models (especially LLMs) in real time, rather than entirely pre-coded. In a GenUI system, the front-end can create new components or layouts on the fly based on a high-level instruction or changing data.

Why is this important? Traditional frontends are slow to build and rigid in behavior. GenUI allows for dynamic forms, dashboards, or charts that adapt to user needs without requiring a designer or developer to manually update them.

For example, instead of replying with plain text, an AI assistant could respond with a dynamically generated chart or a form based on the conversation. That’s the core promise of GenUI: adaptive, smart, and real-time interfaces created directly by AI.

These UIs are powered by LLM UI components—standardized widgets like charts, buttons, and text blocks that an LLM can invoke using structured formats (e.g. JSON). Platforms like Crayon and libraries like llm-ui are already making these components available to developers.

Designing AI-Native Software Interfaces

Building AI-native interfaces involves rethinking UX conventions. Here are some design principles that matter:

Conversation as Backbone: Let users express intent in natural language, with the UI responding dynamically.
Context and Memory: Maintain session context and adapt UI suggestions accordingly.
Transparency and Feedback: Let users understand what the AI is doing, why, and offer undo/edit capabilities.
User Control: Ensure the AI can be corrected, overridden, or refined easily.
Consistent Look and Feel: Use a design system to ensure that dynamically generated UI remains coherent.

These practices help teams ship interfaces that feel intelligent yet trustworthy.

Building Agentic UIs: Tools and Techniques

To bring agentic UIs to life, teams are combining:

Crayon SDK: Open-source runtime built for rendering GenUI components.
Prompt engineering: Guide LLMs to output structured UI specs (e.g. form schemas).
C1 API by Thesys: A hosted Generative UI (GenUI) API that translates LLM outputs into live, interactive components.

The C1 API is particularly powerful. It allows developers to send a prompt or data payload and receive fully formed UI components in return. No scaffolding required. It works with React and integrates with existing workflows.

Teams using C1 have reported significant speedups in delivering new features and dashboards, as well as reduced reliance on manual UI updates.

Conclusion

Agentic UIs and Generative UI (GenUI) mark a fundamental shift in how we build software interfaces. By combining goal-driven interaction, real-time UI generation, and LLM awareness, these interfaces transform static tools into smart, collaborative digital teammates.

Designing such interfaces requires new patterns—but with platforms like C1, the path is getting easier. Teams can now ship adaptive frontends with minimal friction and unlock the full potential of AI-native software.

Thesys and the C1 API – Take the Next Step

If you're ready to build AI-powered interfaces that adapt in real time, explore Thesys, the company building infrastructure for Generative UI (GenUI). Their C1 API helps developers transform LLM outputs into interactive UIs. Whether you're building an AI dashboard builder, a smart form, or a copilot, C1 offers the tools to move fast—without compromising on design or flexibility.

References

Krill, Paul. "Thesys introduces generative UI API for building AI apps." InfoWorld, 25 Apr. 2025.
Sgobba, Nick. "The 'Agentic UI' Pattern." Medium, May 2025.
Thesys. (2025). What is Generative UI? Retrieved from https://docs.thesys.dev
Louise, Nickie. "Cutting Dev Time in Half with AI-Powered Frontends." TechStartups, Apr. 2025.

What Are Agentic UIs? A Beginner's Guide to AI-Powered Interfaces

What Are Agentic UIs? A Beginner's Guide to AI-Powered Interfaces

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