With AI development becoming accessible, having an "AI product" is not a sustainable advantage. True defensibility comes from solving a specific customer problem better than anyone else, using AI as a tool, not the core value proposition. The challenge is no longer building, but deciding what to build.
Fully remote work makes interactions transactional, stripping away the informal, fun moments that build personal connections. This lack of humanity can lead to misunderstandings and friction, as colleagues only interact for business purposes and lose the context of each other as people, leading to more conflict.
In legacy companies, evangelizing product jargon like 'discovery' or 'iteration' is alienating and can seem arrogant. Product managers gain more traction by using stakeholders' own language, focusing on solving their problems, and reframing product processes as simple, tangible requests for feedback, not philosophical debates.
As AI makes it easier to build custom internal tools, the unique value of SaaS products shifts. Their true defensibility becomes the aggregated knowledge from a broad customer base, allowing them to solve problems with market-wide experience that a single company’s internal tool can’t replicate.
When AI tools boost productivity, the default reaction is to push for even higher output. A more strategic approach is to 'bank' those gains, giving teams more time and brain space for creative problem-solving and strategic thinking, rather than simply ratcheting up expectations and causing burnout.
While the tech world obsesses over AI, positioning a product as 'AI-first' can be a liability in mainstream markets. Many non-tech users are skeptical or actively hostile towards AI, making it a poor marketing message. Focus on the problem solved, not the underlying technology which can create backlash.
Potential speakers often hesitate, feeling they lack the charisma or style of famous presenters. However, authenticity is more effective. Your unique way of structuring thoughts and telling stories will connect genuinely with an audience, whereas trying to adopt a persona will likely fail.