Everyone in the AI space follows the same tired advice. We decided to question it. After analyzing over 1,000 AI product failures, we found a shocking pattern that conventional wisdom completely misses. The data points to one uncomfortable truth about why most AI products never find traction.
The Reality Nobody Talks About
A lot of the advice on AI product management rests on assumptions that made sense five years ago. The world has moved on.
The first thing to understand is that your team matters more than your technology. I've seen this play out across dozens of companies. The pattern is unmistakable.
Many teams spend months on the wrong path before realizing that the data tells a different story than your gut. Once they make the switch, everything changes.
What I've Learned From 103 Companies
A few patterns in AI product management come up again and again.
The founders who handle AI product management well understand that timing is everything in this game.
Real Talk: What Actually Matters
Here is what actually matters in AI product management.
First, execution speed beats perfection. Every time. Companies rarely fail because they moved too fast on AI product management. Many fail because they moved too slowly.
Second, measure everything. If you can't measure it, you can't improve it. Set up tracking from day one, even if it's basic.
Third, talk to your users. It sounds obvious, but many founders make decisions about AI product management in a vacuum. Get out of the building. Talk to real people.
This connects to broader themes around ai product management, team management, hiring mistakes that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
Wrapping Up
I've shared a lot here, and I know it can feel overwhelming. But you don't need to get AI product management right on day one. You just need to get started and keep improving.
Founders who do well at AI product management tend to share one trait: they're relentlessly practical. They don't chase perfection. They chase progress.
That's the mindset I'd encourage you to adopt. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. And keep pushing forward.
As always, I'm rooting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How has this view evolved over time?
My thinking on most topics has changed significantly over the years. Early in my career, I held many conventional views that experience proved wrong. I try to update my beliefs when the evidence changes.
Q:How can I apply this thinking to my own situation?
Start by identifying the core principle behind the opinion, not the specific example. Then ask yourself: does this principle apply to my context? If yes, test it in a small, low-risk way before going all in.
Q:Do all experts agree with this view?
No, and that's fine. The best ideas in business are often contrarian. I share my perspective based on my experience and data, but I encourage you to seek out opposing viewpoints and form your own conclusions.
Q:What experience informs this perspective?
This perspective comes from over a decade of building companies in Silicon Valley, two successful exits (RemoteTeam to Gusto, MovieLaLa to Gfycat), and investing in 234 startups including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Scale AI. I write about what I've lived.