The web you are using today is no longer like it was two years ago. Interfaces are transforming due to the combined effects of European regulations, the gradual disappearance of third-party cookies, and the arrival of AI copilots directly in everyday tools. Understanding these changes allows for informed technical and strategic choices, whether managing a showcase site or an e-commerce platform.
European AI Act and web interfaces: what changes concretely for sites
Since 2024, the European AI Act is gradually coming into effect. This regulation imposes specific obligations on sites that use generative artificial intelligence in their interfaces. Two requirements stand out due to their direct impact on web design.
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The first concerns the obligation to indicate AI-generated content. A chatbot integrated into an e-commerce site, for example, must clearly inform the user that they are interacting with an automated system. This constraint modifies the design of chat windows and requires adding visible mentions, not hidden in a terms and conditions page.
The second relates to the transparency of recommendation systems. If your site offers products or personalized content via an algorithm, users must be able to understand why a particular item is presented to them. Restrictions on certain profiling uses add to this requirement.
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To keep up with the news on Lordy’sweblog.net, which helps track these regulatory developments applied to web development.
This compliance angle is rarely addressed in articles about design trends or user experience. However, it transforms the way to design a chatbot, an internal search engine, or a content recommendation system.
End of third-party cookies: server-side tagging reshapes analytics tracking
Have you noticed that cookie banners are becoming increasingly complex? This visible evolution hides a much deeper technical shift. Safari and Firefox browsers already block most third-party trackers. Chrome, through its Privacy Sandbox program, is following the same trajectory.
The direct consequence for websites: traditional user tracking methods (analytics, A/B testing, targeted advertising) are losing reliability. The technical response that is becoming widespread is called server-side tagging.
How server-side tagging works
Instead of loading tracking scripts in the user’s browser (client-side), data is routed through an intermediary server controlled by the site owner. This server filters, anonymizes, and redistributes information to analytics tools.
- First-party data (collected directly by the site) replaces third-party data, reducing reliance on advertising cookies
- Page load times decrease, as fewer scripts run in the user’s browser
- Control over the data sent to advertising platforms becomes granular, facilitating GDPR compliance
This architecture changes how marketing teams and developers collaborate. Tracking becomes an infrastructure topic, no longer just a configuration issue. Sites that do not anticipate this transition risk gradually losing visibility into their visitors’ behavior.
AI copilots integrated into web tools: beyond just a chatbot
Artificial intelligence is no longer limited to a chatbot placed in a corner of the page. Since 2024, platforms like Figma, Notion, or Shopify integrate copilots directly into their work interfaces. The principle: AI assists the user in their daily tasks without needing to leave the tool.
What this changes for site development
A designer using Figma can ask their copilot to generate mockup variations from a textual description. On Shopify, the copilot helps merchants write product descriptions or set up promotions.
These copilots transform interfaces into conversational spaces. The user no longer just navigates through menus; they converse with the tool. This trend directly influences public web design: internal search engines, contact forms, and purchasing journeys increasingly incorporate a conversational layer.
The difference with traditional chatbots lies in the depth of integration. A copilot accesses the user’s complete context (their history, files, preferences) to provide relevant answers. A generic chatbot, on the other hand, only responds to predefined questions.
PWA and mobile user experience: an alternative to native applications
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are gaining ground as an intermediate solution between a classic website and a native mobile application. A PWA loads like a website but offers features typically reserved for applications: push notifications, offline functionality, access to the phone’s home screen.
- The development cost remains lower than that of a native application, as a single codebase covers all devices
- Updates are deployed instantly, without going through stores (App Store, Google Play)
- The mobile user experience approaches that of an installed application, with reduced loading times
PWAs are particularly suitable for content sites and e-commerce platforms that want to retain their mobile users without forcing them to download an application. The technology remains underutilized by many sites, even though modern browsers now support it stably.
Eco-friendly design: reducing page weight as a performance lever
Digital sobriety goes beyond mere discourse. Reducing the weight of a web page (compressed images, lighter code, green hosting) simultaneously improves loading times, accessibility on slow connections, and search engine optimization, as search engines favor fast sites.
A site that loads fewer resources consumes less energy on both the server and user sides. This approach aligns with the growing expectations of users regarding brands’ environmental responsibility. It also aligns with the technical constraints of server-side tagging mentioned earlier: fewer third-party scripts mean a lighter and more privacy-respecting site.
Web trends converge towards a common point: putting the user at the center without sacrificing regulatory compliance. Sites that combine transparency about AI, control over their first-party data, and technical sobriety are better positioned to face the changes in browsers, regulations, and visitor expectations.