We track Product so you don't have to. Top Podcasts summarised, the latest AI tools, plus research and news in a 5 min digest.

Hey Product Fans!

Welcome to this week’s 🌮 Product Tapas! The best tasty bites from the world of Product and Tech.

If you’ve been forwarded this or just stumbled upon it, you’re in for a treat. For the best reading experience, check out the web version and sign up for future editions here.

What’s on the menu this week? 🧑‍🍳

📰 Not Boring – ManusAI claims to have created the first "general AI agent," while Google's having a busy week with AI search trials, Pixie assistant, and more updates across their products. Meanwhile, MWC Barcelona brings us exciting hardware innovations, from Lenovo's creative laptop add-ons to new AI phones under $1K.

⌚️ Productivity Tapas – Don't miss Scribe for smarter documentation, our secret top tip for supercharging your prompts, and a great app for quick video resizing. Game-changers for your workflow!

🍔 Blog Bites – Dive into Shackleton's crisis leadership lessons (contemporary I know), master the 30-minute interview with Andrew Chen, and learn how Ramp turned "boring" into billions through creative marketing.

🎙️ Pod Shots – We cover a great UX podcast with Sheryl Cababa where she explores systems thinking for designers, sharing practical tools and insights for navigating complex problem spaces.

Let's dig in! 🚀

📰 Not boring

• Little-known company ManusAI says it has created the first “general AI agent” — beating out OpenAI’s Deep Research on the GAIA benchmark. Waitlist here

• Lots going on with the big G

  • Google introduces AI-only search trial

  • Google’s rumoured new 'Pixie' assistant is finally coming to the Pixel 10 as Pixel Sense

  • Google Drive gets searchable video transcripts

  • Sheets gets a new AI update, bringing fancy new visualisations too

  • and Google co-founder Larry Page reportedly has a new AI startup applying AI to product manufacturing

• Coming in hot from Barcelona’s MWC

  • Lenovo’s concept laptop add-ons include multiple monitors and an emoji friend

  • Newnan AI shows off new phone with some wild features including an AI replica of you

  • Opera becomes the first major browser with AI-based agentic browsing

• Not to be outdone, Deutsche Telekom and Perplexity announce new ‘AI Phone’ priced at under $1K

• McDonald’s Gives Its Restaurants an AI Makeover (no escaping AI news it seems)

• Digg founder teams up with former Reddit rival to buy and revive website

• Apple launches new M3-powered iPad Air

• Stripe says AI startups are growing faster than SaaS ever did, and calling them wrappers ‘misses the point’

• Whilst Hugging Face’s chief science officer worries AI is becoming ‘yes-men on servers’

• Microsoft is finally shutting down Skype in May

• Trello pivots to personal to-do task app it seems

• ElevenLabs introduces Scribe “the worlds most accurate speech to text model”

• Future trends and stats

  • Read about Vibe Coding and the future of Software Engineering

  • McKinsey survey says US consumers now put price ahead of delivery speed for e-commerce 

  • And here’s another AI in the workplace McKinsey report that finds employees using AI 3x more than employers expect…

  • Wearables growing faster than gym or fitness class spending (e.g. Oura ring spend up 52% YoY)

• Dystopian corner: Eerily realistic AI voice demo sparks amazement and discomfort online

⌚️ Productivity Tapas: Time-Saving Tools & GPTs

• Scribe: Capture and share your team's expertise with smarter documentation. Can’t believe I haven’t included this one before, it’s part of my regular workstack and love it. Such a good way to do documentation and training (similar to Guidde).

• Anthropic developer console: Want to turn your every-day-basic prompts into super prompts? Look no further. This is where I now start all my big prompts. It’s superb

• OpusClip: resize any video in one click. Hello better product demos and socials

Remember, as a Product Tapas Pro subscriber you can access the full time saving tools database for fast approaching 400 time-saving tools relevant for product managers and founders 🔥.

Check the link here to access.

🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams

Leadership: Get Down On Your Knees And Pray For Shackleton 

Bill Kerr explores the extraordinary leadership of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer whose greatest achievements came not from reaching his goals, but from how he handled catastrophic failure. When the Endurance became trapped in ice during his 1914 expedition, Shackleton's leadership ensured all 28 men survived against impossible odds.

💡 "Scott for scientific method, Amundsen for speed and efficiency but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton." This quote captures why Shackleton's leadership style remains relevant today - his ability to navigate crisis with resilience, empathy, and unwavering determination.

Hiring: The 30-Minute Interview Masterclass 

Andrew Chen shares his decade of experience interviewing critical hires at Uber and as a VC. For those with packed calendars, he offers a framework to make accurate assessments in just 30 minutes by focusing on high "information per minute" questions.

💡 The key insight: Most interviewers waste time on low-value questions like career histories or vague culture fit assessments. Instead, focus on "super questions" that efficiently filter candidates by revealing the depth of their expertise and problem-solving abilities.

Marketing: From Boring to Billions 

Here, Jason Levin, founder of Memelord Technologies, shares how Ramp, a B2B finance company, turned its "boring" business into a Silicon Valley sensation. By leveraging humour, memes, and a "cinematic universe" approach, Ramp demonstrates how even the dullest industries can create magnetic marketing.

💡 The secret? Build a relatable brand narrative and focus on niche-specific humour to attract the right audience while repelling the wrong one. Ramp’s success shows that even B2B companies can thrive with creative, low-cost marketing strategies.

🎙️ Pod Shots - Bitesized Podcast Summaries

Remember, Product Tapas Pro subscribers get access to an ever growing database of all the top Podcast summaries we’ve ever created. 

Check it out here

🌍 Systems Thinking for Designers: Expanding Your Lens with Sheryl Cababa

In a recent episode of the UX Podcast, hosts James Royal-Lawson and Per Axbom reconnect with Sheryl Cababa, author of Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers. Sheryl reflects on her journey since the book’s release, sharing insights from her workshops, consulting work, and global talks. She dives into the challenges designers face when applying systems thinking, the power dynamics in design, and how even small actions can lead to big changes.

If you’re a designer, product leader, or someone navigating complex problem spaces, this conversation is packed with practical advice and tools to help you think bigger and make a meaningful impact.

 🎥Watch the full episode here

📆 Published: February 28th, 2025

🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins. Time saved: 45 mins🔥

📖 Reflections on Closing the Loop

Sheryl begins by reflecting on her post-publication journey. While she initially thought finishing the book would mark the end of her systems thinking discussions, it turned out to be just the beginning. From workshops to conferences, she’s been spreading the word about systems thinking and learning from the designers she meets.

Key Takeaways:

• The Challenge: Many designers, especially junior ones, struggle to see how systems thinking applies to their work, particularly when they’re focused on narrow tasks like designing a single feature or button.

• The Opportunity: Systems thinking isn’t just for “wicked problems” or large-scale projects—it can be applied to everyday challenges, even within small teams or individual roles.

• The Gap: Sheryl realised she could have written more about how to integrate systems thinking into day-to-day design work, especially for those who feel they lack power or influence in their organisations.

Practical Example: Using the Iceberg Model to Analyze Organizational Challenges

Sheryl shares how she used the Iceberg Model—a systems thinking tool—to help an organisation understand high employee attrition rates.

1. The Iceberg Model: This tool helps you look beyond surface-level events (e.g., high attrition) to uncover the underlying structures, mental models, and systemic issues driving those events.

2. The Process: Sheryl facilitated a workshop where the team mapped out:

   • Events: High attrition rates.

   • Patterns: Recurring issues like lack of career growth opportunities.

   • Structures: Organisational policies or practices contributing to the problem.

   • Mental Models: Beliefs or assumptions (e.g., “employees are replaceable”) that perpetuate the issue.

3. The Outcome: While the exercise didn’t immediately solve the problem, it expanded the team’s understanding of the issue and identified potential leverage points for change.

Sheryl’s Tip: “Even if you’re working on something small, like a single feature, tools like the Iceberg Model can help you uncover the broader context and make more informed decisions.”

🛠️ Systems Thinking in Practice

One of the most common questions Sheryl gets is: “How can I use systems thinking when I’m just working on a small feature or button?” Her answer: Systems thinking is a mindset, not just a set of tools. It’s about expanding your lens and understanding the interconnectedness of the systems you’re designing within.

Key Takeaways:

• Mindset Shift: Systems thinking isn’t just for strategists or leaders—it’s a way of looking at the world that anyone can adopt.

• Practical Tools: Frameworks like the Futures Wheel and Iceberg Model can be used to analyze everything from product decisions to organizational dynamics.

• Start Small: You don’t need a massive budget or months of time to apply systems thinking. A one-hour workshop with your team can uncover valuable insights.

Practical Example: Using the Futures Wheel to Explore Feature Impacts

Sheryl explains how the Futures Wheel can help teams anticipate the ripple effects of their design decisions.

1. The Futures Wheel: This tool maps out the primary, secondary, and tertiary effects of a decision.

2. The Process: Sheryl facilitated a session where a team explored the potential impacts of a new feature:

   • Primary Effect: Increased user engagement.

   • Secondary Effect: Higher server costs due to increased traffic.

   • Tertiary Effect: Environmental impact from higher energy consumption.

3. The Outcome: The exercise helped the team identify potential risks and opportunities, leading to a more thoughtful implementation plan.

Sheryl’s Tip: “The Futures Wheel isn’t just about identifying risks—it’s also a tool for uncovering opportunities and driving innovation.”

🌱 Empowering Designers to Make Change

A recurring theme in Sheryl’s discussions is the feeling among designers that they lack power or influence in their organisations. She challenges this mindset, encouraging designers to take initiative and use systems thinking as a way to insert themselves into strategic conversations.

Key Takeaways:

• The Problem: Many designers feel they don’t have a “seat at the table” when it comes to strategic decision-making.

• The Solution: Use systems thinking tools to start conversations, uncover insights, and demonstrate the value of a broader perspective.

• The Mindset: Don’t wait for permission—just start. Small actions can lead to big changes over time.

Practical Example: Trojan Horsing Strategy Through Systems Thinking

Sheryl shares how designers can use systems thinking frameworks to influence decision-making without explicitly framing it as “strategy.”

1. The Approach: Sheryl calls this “Trojan horsing” strategy—using accessible, fun design exercises to introduce strategic thinking into team discussions.

2. The Process: For example, a designer concerned about the ethics of a new feature could run a quick Futures Wheel exercise with their team to explore potential impacts.

3. The Outcome: These exercises often lead to deeper conversations about ethics, innovation, and long-term impact, helping designers build credibility and influence.

Sheryl’s Tip: “You don’t need to change everything overnight. Start small, build momentum, and show the value of systems thinking through your actions.”

🌍 Systems Thinking and Wicked Problems

Sheryl emphasises that most designers are already working in “wicked problem” spaces—they just don’t realise it. Whether it’s education, healthcare, or consumer technology, the systems we design within are complex and interconnected.

Key Takeaways:

• The Reality: Digital products often intersect with larger societal systems, like education or healthcare, which come with their own inequities and challenges.

• The Opportunity: Systems thinking helps designers understand these intersections and design more thoughtful, impactful solutions.

• The Challenge: Technology alone can’t solve systemic issues—it’s about understanding and addressing the underlying structures and incentives.

Practical Example: Analysing EdTech with Systems Thinking

Sheryl shares an example from her work in education technology (EdTech):

1. The Problem: A stakeholder observed that EdTech tools often fail to address systemic inequities in education.

2. The Analysis: Using systems thinking, Sheryl’s team mapped out the systemic barriers (e.g., funding disparities, bureaucratic hurdles) that prevent EdTech from achieving its goals.

3. The Insight: The exercise revealed that many EdTech solutions reinforce existing power structures rather than disrupting them, leading to a shift in how the team approached their designs.

Sheryl’s Tip: “If you’re working in technology, you’re already in a complex space. Systems thinking tools can help you expand your lens and uncover new opportunities.”

💡 Final Thoughts: Designers as Change Agents

Sheryl concludes with a call to action for designers: embrace your role as a critical thinker and change agent. Systems thinking isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about asking better questions, uncovering hidden dynamics, and driving meaningful change.

Key Takeaways:

• Designers Have Power: As creative and critical thinkers, designers are uniquely positioned to influence their organisations and drive change.

• Start Small: You don’t need permission to start using systems thinking—just do it.

• Think Bigger: Even small design decisions can have far-reaching impacts. Use systems thinking to understand and anticipate those impacts.

Sheryl’s Tip: “Don’t blame the lettuce. If designers feel disempowered, it’s up to all of us—leaders, educators, and practitioners—to create systems that help them thrive.”

🎙️ Recommended Links

• Full transcript for this episode

• Sheryl Cababa

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherylcababa

• Closing the loop on Rosenfeld Media

• Participatory Design and Systems Thinking: So Happy Together (Sheryl’s talk at FBTB2024)

• Thinking in systems: a primer by Donna H Meadows

• The iceberg model

• Failure to distrupt by Justin Reich

• Thich Nhat Hanh – Don’t blame the lettuce

• James’s system map for a digital designer

  

• Recommended listening:

  • Episode 308: Systems thinking with Sheryl Cababa

  • Episode 242: Figure it out with Stephen Anderson and Karl Fast

• From Business To Buttons

 🎥Watch the full episode here

That’s a wrap.

As always, the journey doesn't end here!

Please share and let us know what you would like to see more or less of so we can continue to improve your Product Tapas. 🚀👋

Alastair 🍽️.