TLDR PRODUCT MANAGEMENT 2025-05-13

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NO, REALLY, EVERYTHING BECOMES BI

AI might make better business decisions than a CEO if it had access to all of the CEO's context, memories, and data. This challenges the idea that human judgment is inherently superior. The future of analytics and AI may lie in capturing and integrating qualitative human context - our thoughts, preferences, and messy intuition - rather than merely improving data tools or charts.

THE SUBSTACK PLAYBOOK: INSIDE THE $650M PLATFORM REWRITING MEDIA, TRUST, AND CREATOR ECONOMICS (85 MINUTE PODCAST)

Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie are transforming media with Substack by letting creators own their work and earn through subscriptions, bypassing ad-driven algorithms. In this podcast, they discuss reshaping creator economics, using AI in content, and building deeper audience connections.

PERSPECTIVES ON CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENT

This piece explores the complexities of change and improvement, highlighting perspectives shaped by experience, context, and mindset. From openness to change despite limited experience to being informed yet struggling with practical application, each perspective has its strengths and risks, emphasizing the nuanced, context-dependent nature of growth and improvement.

AI DESIGN TOOLS ARE MARGINALLY BETTER: STATUS UPDATE

AI design tools have improved since 2024, but are still far from replacing designers, with narrow-scope tools like Figma's layer renaming and copywriting being the most useful. Broader tools like wireframe generators still lack the necessary contextual understanding, and issues like short prompt limits and poor design system integration persist.

HOW TO SEQUENCE YOUR GROWTH SQUADS

This article presents an effective approach to building a growth-focused team, starting with activation, followed by monetization, acquisition, and retention. It highlights the need for specialized growth squads, like infrastructure and experimentation teams, and recommends allocating 25% of the R&D budget to growth once product-market fit is achieved.

FIGMA'S AI PROTOTYPING TOOL IS HERE AND...IT'S A MUST TRY (43 MINUTE PODCAST)

Figma Make is an AI tool that turns text, images, and designs into interactive prototypes, enabling quick creation of everything from galleries to simulations. It stands out with seamless Figma integration, real-time collaboration, and easy editing, with quality measured through design scores, user feedback, and analytics.

SETTING STARTUP POLICIES

Setting effective company policies is a key responsibility for startup executives, requiring clarity, transparency, and adaptability to ensure fairness and avoid unintended consequences. Policies should be sensible, evolve with those affected, and be used sparingly to prevent bureaucracy and promote a healthy, high-trust culture.

BUILD YOUR OWN EDGE: LOW-CODE TOOLS FOR SMARTER COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (4 MINUTE VIDEO)

Product marketers can boost their competitive research by building custom, low-code tools that automate tracking and analysis, saving time, cutting costs, and enabling tailored insights.

THE PROGRESS WHEEL: MY FAVORITE STRUCTURE TO CONNECT THE DOTS

Real progress occurs when teams focus on practices that add value and reinforce each other.

THE BRAINSTORMING ILLUSION: WHY STICKY NOTES AREN'T STRATEGY

Brainstorming often poses as innovation but hides a lack of focus and accountability behind colorful consensus.