Member-only story
The Unstoppable Rise of Spark ✨, as Ai’s Iconic Symbol
The ✨ spark icon has become a popular choice to represent AI in many well-known products such as Google Photos, Notion AI, Coda AI, and most recently, Miro AI. It is widely recognized as a symbol of innovation, creativity, and inspiration in the tech industry, particularly in the field of AI.
Although it is not an official icon for AI, the spark perfectly captures the essence of the innovative and transformative nature of AI. While other icons like robots, gears, and neural networks are commonly used, the spark stands out for its ability to convey a sense of wonder and possibility associated with AI.
Due to the rising awareness and strong association of the spark icon with AI, companies often avoid seeking alternative icons. Deviating from the spark icon requires significant marketing efforts to establish new visual identities, making companies hesitant to explore other options. Users expect AI to exhibit human-like behavior rather than just perform physical tasks, so icons like robots may fail to convey the intended message. A robot icon suggests a narrow focus on automation, while AI encompasses a much broader range of capabilities, including complex problem-solving and decision-making. Although neural network icons accurately represent a core component of AI, they tend to be too technical for general audiences.