Overview
How might we design smart diff so people can trust and act on AI output?
When this pattern fits
- Perfect for collaborative editing tools, version control systems, and document platforms where intelligent change visualization improves review and collaboration.
When to skip or lighten it
- Brand-new blank generations with no prior document to compare.
- Tiny single-field edits where a full diff pane is heavier than undo.
- Streaming chat replies that are not meant to mutate an existing artifact.
States
State model coming soon
Key UX elements
Key UX elements coming soon
Anti-patterns to avoid
Applying AI edits with no visual diff and only a buried undo.
Raw line diffs that ignore semantic groupings users care about.
Accept-all with no way to accept hunks selectively.
Diffs that hide deletions or move them off-screen.
How products use it
| Product | Implementation |
|---|---|
| GitHub | Pull request diffs and Copilot suggested-change review. |
| Google Docs | Suggesting mode that marks AI or collaborator edits for review. |
| Notion | AI rewrite previews that show before/after on selected blocks. |
| Cursor | Inline and multi-file diffs for agent and composer edits. |
Implementation
Copy this prompt to generate a production-ready implementation in Cursor, Claude Code, Lovable, or any AI coding agent.
Generate a production-ready implementation of the "Smart Diff" AI interface design pattern.
Pattern Definition:Frequently asked questions
What is smart diff in AI product UX?
Smart diff shows what the AI changed relative to the prior version, often with accept/reject per hunk, so users can review model edits instead of trusting a silent overwrite.
When do I need semantic grouping?
When many line changes are one logical edit (rename, reformat, move). Grouping reduces noise compared with raw line-by-line diffs.
How does smart diff relate to human-in-the-loop?
HITL is the approval gate. Smart diff is the evidence surface that makes that approval informed. Most write-agents need both.
Should chat streaming use diffs?
Only when the model is editing an existing artifact. Pure chat answers usually stream as text; apply diffs when mutating docs or code.