Prompt suggestions or starter templates are offered
Why it matters
A blank chat input plus a blinking cursor is the worst possible empty state for an AI product. New users do not know what the model is good at, what phrasing works, or whether they are supposed to type keywords or full sentences — so they bounce. Starter prompts collapse that cold-start problem by showing concrete examples of the product's sweet spot, and they double as a proof-of-capability demo for prospects still evaluating whether the tool fits.
Severity rationale
Low because it hurts activation but does not break existing-user workflows once the product is understood.
Remediation
Render four starter prompts as clickable buttons in the empty state, each wired to submit the prompt directly — not to populate the input box. Choose prompts that showcase distinct capabilities so the grid also serves as a capability map. Implement in src/components/chat/empty-state.tsx.
{messages.length === 0 && STARTER_PROMPTS.map(p => (
<button key={p} onClick={() => handleSubmit(p)}>{p}</button>
))}
DetectionPro
The detection method for this pattern is part of AuditBuffet Pro.
The full method (what to look for, pass and fail conditions, and how results get reported) ships inside the AI UX Patterns Audit. The pattern definition, severity rationale, and remediation remain openly licensed under CC-BY-4.0.
Taxons
History
- 2026-04-18·v1.0.0·Initial import from ai-ux-patterns·automated