Are LLMs about to hit a wall? (8 minute read)
Each new generation of LLMs demands vast amounts of data, computing power, and energy, leading to concerns about the sustainability of their scaling. As limits on resources loom, the industry must innovate with more efficient training methods and specialized hardware to avoid hitting developmental limits.
Meta and reasonable doubt (10 minute read)
Investors are alarmed as Meta announces increased spending, particularly on AI investments, leading to a significant drop in share prices. While Mark Zuckerberg attempts to reassure investors, concerns arise about the company's short to medium-term prospects, especially regarding the clarity of revenue opportunities and the timing of returns on investment.
Managing up (14 minute read)
The deterioration of tech products, attributed to "rot economics," has been facilitated by a managerial class that prioritizes short-term market gains over innovation. This reflects a broader issue of entrusting tech's future to management consultants rather than those involved in actual product creation, leading to disconnected leadership and a decline in real value creation.
7 fails of roadmap-making (8 minute read)
When creating long-term plans, several common pitfalls should be avoided: overly detailed effort estimations, excessive focus on current conditions, overemphasis on competition, prioritizing outputs over outcomes, plans that are too public, lack of actionable steps, and insufficient communication.
Moving from AI assistants to AI agents (5 minute read)
AI agents surpass the basic functions of a simple "assistant" by exhibiting advanced reasoning and capabilities that allow them to perform tasks on users' behalf, transitioning AI from a "read-only" to a "read-write" operation. This shift brings us closer to realizing AI's full potential, especially in enterprise settings, where AI can handle various aspects of a workflow.
Twitter's former head of product opens up: being fired, meeting Elon, changing stagnant culture, and more (95 minute podcast)
This podcast dives into Kayvon Beykpour's experience at Twitter, including his departure after Elon Musk's acquisition, the cultural changes he implemented, his views on frameworks like JTBD, the reasons behind Periscope's failure, and advice for building consumer products. He discusses challenging ingrained assumptions, fostering alignment, understanding customer needs, and continuous learning from both successes and failures.
How to ask for a favor (10 minute read)
Asking for favors can feel intimidating, but the right approach can ease the process and increase your likelihood of success. Effective strategies include building a relationship first, being ready for possible rejection, treating the process like a numbers game, simplifying the request, making it easy for the other person to say yes, ensuring the favor benefits both parties, finding a common connection, and committing to reciprocate in the future.
The golden formula for a successful product vision (2 minute read)
While articulating a clear product vision is crucial for aligning teams, providing a high-level picture of the product's long-term goals must be complemented by ensuring that every team member understands the underlying purpose and significance of achieving those goals.