AI-Ready Documentation

Core Insight: Structure documentation for both human and AI consumption to maximize adoption

When to Apply

• Documentation architecture → Planning documentation structure
• AI tool integration → Enabling AI-assisted development
• Developer experience optimization → Improving implementation speed

Why This Works

• ✓ Higher adoption - Dustin (Indeed): "People wanted to use AI on the design system"
• ✓ Better implementations - AI generates more consistent code with structured docs
• ✓ Reduced support burden - AI can answer common questions automatically
• ✓ Future-proof approach - Positions system for emerging AI workflows

Alternative Approaches

• Human-only documentation - Traditional approach → Misses AI-assisted development workflows
• AI-only optimization - Structured for machines → Loses human readability and context
• Separate AI documentation - Dedicated AI files → Maintenance burden, gets outdated

Quick Example

<!-- Component page with AI-friendly structure -->

# Button Component

<ComponentDemo component="Button" />

## AI Prompt

Copy this for AI assistants: "Create a Button component with variants: primary, secondary, danger. Include size options: small, medium, large. Use semantic HTML with proper accessibility attributes."

## Usage Guidelines

-   Use `variant="primary"` for main actions
-   Use `variant="danger"` for destructive actions

Related Insights

• Markdown Documentation Strategy - Foundation for AI-ready docs
• Component Tagging Strategies - Helping AI identify components

Session Highlights

• Documentation Evolution Stages - The three stages of documentation maturity, including AI-enabled conversational documentation
• Markdown as Universal Language - Why markdown enables AI-ready documentation workflows

Sources: Vercel Geist Session • May 2025, Documentation Craft Session • Dec 2024