Videos
Inside Google's AI turnaround: AI Mode， AI Overviews， and vision for AI-powered search | Robby Stein
This podcast features Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, who provides deep insights into Google's recent AI successes, including the rapid rise of Gemini, AI Overviews, and the new AI Mode. He articulates how AI is expanding search capabilities by enabling users to ask more complex, natural language questions and engage with multimodal inputs (like Google Lens), rather than replacing traditional search. Stein shares his philosophy of "relentless improvement" and outlines three core product principles: a deep understanding of user needs (Jobs to be Done), rigorous problem analysis (root cause analysis), and designing for clarity over cleverness. He illustrates these principles with practical examples from his experience at Instagram (Stories, Close Friends) and Google's AI Mode, highlighting the iterative development process, the importance of recognizing qualitative "magic moments," and the strategic allocation of resources, driven by a new sense of organizational urgency. Stein also touches on the shift towards more natural, human-like interaction with AI, the evolving landscape of AI Engine Optimization (AEO), and expresses excitement for the future of multimodal AI in inspiring and assisting users with complex, open-ended queries.
This interview features Jason Droege, CEO of Scale AI, providing clarity on Scale AI's independent status following a significant investment by Meta and detailing the company's evolution in AI model data annotation. Droege emphasizes Scale AI's shift from general data labeling to highly specialized expert-driven training and evaluation tasks, responding to the increasing complexity of AI models. He shares invaluable career experiences, including co-founding Scour and scaling Uber Eats into a multi-billion dollar business, offering deep insights into product development, the urgency of understanding customer needs, and the importance of independent thought. The discussion also delves into the future of AI, the indispensable role of human experts in model training, the transition from 'cognition' to 'action' in AI, and practical advice on business viability (e.g., gross margins) and effective team building. Overall, the interview highlights the practical challenges and strategic approaches in both AI and broader tech entrepreneurship.