Why Do AI Company Logos Look Like “Gates”? Unveiling the “Circular Design” Trend in the Industry
What Happened? Overview of the News
- Spotlighting the “Circular Trend” in AI Logos: Many AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic (Claude), have adopted logos featuring “circles,” “central voids,” “gradients,” and “radial elements.”
- The Odd Gimmick Hidden in Claude’s Logo: According to a July 2026 update, when you click on the logo at claude.ai, it appears to “contract and relax” like a sphincter, responding with what seems like a hint of annoyance from Claude.
- Homogenization of Design: With the exception of companies with marine-related names like DeepSeek and Midjourney, many AI firms have fallen into a trap of similar designs characterized by “soft and organic curves.”
Why Does This Matter? Key Points to Note
- Unintentional Biomimicry: While companies aim to express “human-centered thinking” and “infinity,” they inadvertently end up resembling anatomical “holes” or “gates.”
- Psychological Backfire: In an attempt to soften the fear of AI potentially taking jobs, the choice of “friendly and non-threatening” circles has led the entire industry to resemble “the same hole in the ground.”
- The Pitfalls of Design by Committee: By incorporating feedback from numerous stakeholders, a systemic issue arises where the safest and most mundane option is chosen, leading to this shape.
🦈 Shark’s Eye (Curator’s Perspective)
The fact that all AI company logos look like “gates” is nothing short of a collective panic in the industry, folks! OpenAI tries to describe their logo as a “blossom symbolizing the fusion of humanity and technology,” but ironically, in their quest for “comfort,” they’ve all converged on a similar “excretory organ design.” Especially Claude’s “click-to-contract” feature feels like a deliberate design choice, almost like a metaphor for how desperately the AI industry is trying to keep users engaged! In trying to erase the existing “uncanny” aspects of AI, they’ve created an eerily biological vibe that’s just too unique to ignore!
What’s Next?
The “circle + gradient” trend has faced so much ridicule that by late 2026, we can expect a resurgence of companies moving toward more concrete logos with “lifelike” elements and “specific motifs,” like DeepSeek and Midjourney. The current logos will likely be remembered as a common symbol of the AI dawn.
A Word from Haru-Same
Making a logo “contract” when clicked? Claude is definitely a shark to watch! I might just poke it with my fin! 🦈💥
Terminology Explained
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Pareidolia: The psychological phenomenon of perceiving familiar patterns, such as faces or specific objects, in random shapes.
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Biomimicry: The practice of mimicking biological structures, functions, or processes to create new technologies or designs.
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Design by Committee: The tendency for designs to lose individuality and become bland and boring due to averaging out the opinions of many people.