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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!

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating.

Welcome to this week’s 🌮 Product Tapas, where we’re serving up the tastiest morsels from the world of product and tech.

If you’ve been forwarded this or just fancy the best reading (and listening!) experience, check out the mobile app or web version. You can sign up and check previous editions here.

What’s sizzling? 🥘 

📰 Not Boring – This week we’ve start with Ben Evans’ presentation on how "AI is eating the world". Nvidia continues to dazzle with GenAI for sound, while Replit adds another crazy feature to its automated app creation. Meanwhile, Bluesky is catching up with Threads, SpaceX is changing connectivity with Starlink Cellular, and Synapse’s fintech crisis sparks concern in the US. Plus much more.

⌚ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs – From AI tools that build apps, automate creative tasks, and recolour images, to those that streamline fundraising and workflow automation—as ever we’ve got you covered to help you do more, faster. Plus remember you can also access the ever-growing Product Tapas tools database for the ultimate productivity boost.

🍔 Blog Bites – Europe’s tech ecosystem is booming! We explore Atomico’s 10-year report on growth and what’s next. Plus, a deep dive into why B2C billing is tougher than you think and how design systems are evolving for the AI era.

🎙️ Pod Shots – Hot off the heels of their latest new feature, we’re also covering Replit’s co-founder Amjad Masad’s recent Lenny’s podcast. From making app development seamless for non-coders to how AI is shifting product roles, this is a trend every founder and PM should tune into, irrespective of your view on the pros and cons.

There’s something for everyone this week, so let’s dig in!

📰 Not boring

• Every year, Ben Evans produces an excellent presentation exploring macro and strategic trends in the tech industry. For 2025, ‘AI eats the world’

• Nvidia unveils world’s most flexible sound GenAI model. Using text and audio as inputs, a new generative AI model from NVIDIA can create any combination of music, voices and sounds

• Replit now let’s you take a screenshot of an app then create your own using AI [see more on Replit in this week’s Pod Shots]

• More agent news; Android 16 could give Gemini the power over apps Assistant never got

• Zoom rebrands with new logo, moving away from ‘just’ video to more comprehensive collaboration solutions

• Anthropic launches Model Context Protocol (a new standard for connecting AI assistants to the systems where data lives, including content repositories, business tools, and development environments). Comes with pre-built connections to Google Drive, Slack, GitHub and more.

• Spotify launches new audiobook features and tools for those publishing books on the platform including video and a “Follow-Along” visual experience too

  • But in a separate move, cuts developer access to several of its recommendation features

• YouTube will now auto dub videos in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Hindi, Indonesian and Japanese

• Uber is investing heavily in its data business and taking a leaf out of Amazon’s book through re-selling this core internal product/service

• Thousands of Americans see their savings vanish in Synapse fintech crisis

• Bluesky is on the verge of overtaking Threads in all the ways that matter. Although

• Whilst Threads is looking to add some differentiation through enabling users to choose any feed For You, following, or a custom one as your default.

• SpaceX now has enough satellites up to offer Cellular Starlink Service

• UK regulator will soon be handed a raft of sweeping powers that will allow it to subject American tech companies to aggressive legal interventions. Interested to see how this one plays out 👀 

⌚️ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs

Writer RAG tool: build production-ready RAG apps in minutes

• Writer RAG Tool: build production-ready RAG apps in minutes with simple API calls.

• Knowledge Graph integration for intelligent data retrieval and AI-powered interactions.

• Streamlined full-stack platform eliminates complex setups for scalable, accurate AI workflows.

Learn more about our production ready RAG tooling here.

• Notclass: Search inside YouTube Videos to find exactly what you want in seconds

• Databutton: AI app builder

• CogentAI: Take the guesswork out of fundraising with AI-powered investment intelligence

• Colorixor: recolour objects in images with AI precision

• BuildShip: Build APIs and automate complex business tasks and workflows with this low-code, AI product

• Spiral: Automates repetitive creative work, in your voice.

Remember, as a subscriber you can access the full time saving tools database for fast approaching 300 time-saving tools relevant for product managers and founders 🔥. Check the link below to access 👇️ .

🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams

Macro: The Evolution of European Tech: A Decade of Growth and Promise

Some of you may have seem Barney Hussey-Yeo’s recent posts on creating better Venture in the UK (if not, check the link - some great takes).

Atomico have just released their 10th-anniversary report on the state of Tech in Europe (with plenty on investment), reflecting on the progress and the keys to unlocking Europe’s full potential in the years to come.

They cover how the European tech ecosystem has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, with advancements in talent, capital, and ambition reshaping the landscape. Despite regulatory and funding challenges, Europe is now home to over 300 unicorns, and optimism remains high for its continued evolution into a global tech powerhouse.

Opinion: Why B2C Billing is Harder Than You Think

In this recent article, Arnon Shimoni makes the case that whilst B2C billing might seem simpler than its B2B counterpart, it comes with unique complexities, especially for companies operating at scale like Netflix, Spotify, or HelloFresh.

From managing diverse global payment methods to handling millions of transactions and compliance challenges, building a B2C billing system can quickly become overwhelming.

Here are the key reasons why B2C billing is tougher and why you should consider off-the-shelf solutions instead of building your own.

Design: Design Systems for the AI Era

The rise of generative AI demands a complete rethink of traditional design systems.

This recent article from Microsoft, covers how the journey of building AI-driven tools like Copilot has revealed how design systems must evolve to meet the complexity and adaptability of AI-powered interactions.

These systems are no longer static templates but dynamic, evolving frameworks that respond to user context, intent, and goals.

🎙️ Pod Shots - Bitesized Podcast Summaries

Remember, subscribers get access to an ever growing database of all the top Podcast summaries we’ve ever created. Check it out below 👇️ 

💡Behind the Product: Replit | Amjad Masad (Co-founder and CEO)

Today’s Pod Shot covers the recent Lenny’s Podcast conversation with Amjad Masad, where he explored the Replit journey, the future of software creation, and practical advice for product builders navigating this rapidly changing landscape.

So who are Replit?

Well, what if creating software became as easy as typing out an idea? Replit, co-founded by Amjad Masad, is bringing that vision to life. With 34 million users and counting, Replit is redefining who gets to build software—and how quickly.

From CEOs prototyping their next big thing to 11-year-olds launching apps, Replit is a story every product manager and founder should know. Whether you see it as a game-changer or a looming problem (e.g. no one in your business knows how your product is built), it’s worth your attention.

🎥Watch the full episode here

📆 Published: November 21st, 2024

🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins. Time saved: 60 mins🔥

🌟 Making Software Creation Accessible

The Vision: Replit was born out of frustration. Traditional software development requires a fragmented setup: downloading an IDE, installing runtimes, configuring package managers, and learning deployment. This complexity deters many from even trying. Replit simplifies all that into a seamless, web-based experience. And with AI-powered tools, even non-coders can build, deploy, and iterate with ease.

A Story: An 11-year-old recently used Replit to build and deploy her own app—something that typically involves coding skills, database setup, and hosting hurdles. Replit removed those barriers, empowering her creativity.

Key Takeaways for Founders and PMs:

• Look for ways to reduce friction in your user experience. Simplify the hardest parts of your product journey.

• Build products that inspire creativity and empower your users to do more than they thought possible.

🚀 The Changing Role of Product Teams

What’s Changing: AI is reshaping how product managers, engineers, and designers collaborate. Tools like Replit let non-technical team members build prototypes or even full products, bypassing traditional bottlenecks like waiting for engineering bandwidth.

A Wild Future: Amjad predicts that in five years, we could see billion-dollar companies run by a single person, with AI handling support, development, and maintenance. For product teams, this means a shift in focus from execution to ideation. Although be mindful of how much you automate off the bat.

Key Takeaways for Founders and PMs:

• Prioritise ideation: With execution becoming easier, your ability to generate and refine ideas quickly will be the new bottleneck.

• Embrace tools that enable autonomous prototyping—this will be critical for staying ahead.

• Don’t rush into it blindly: With great power, comes great responsibility. Know the limitations of what AI can do. Who will support your product when it goes wrong, if no-one on your team understands it?

💡 Why Being Generative Matters

The New Skillset: Amjad emphasises the growing importance of generative thinking—your ability to create and explore new ideas quickly. AI tools are removing execution barriers, making your ability to brainstorm and refine ideas the most valuable skill.

I would add to this, the importance of knowing the limitations and how to get the best from the tools. Blindly expecting AI to be able to create code as robust as a team of engineers is naive at best. But understanding how to accelerate prototyping or using apps as a way to show, speeds up discovery and alignment.

Amjad’s Law: He jokingly coins this: “The ROI of learning to code doubles every six months.” Even a basic understanding of coding or AI prompting will amplify what you can achieve.

Key Takeaways for Founders and PMs:

• Hone your ability to generate ideas—it’s your most valuable skill in an AI-enabled world.

• Learn the basics of coding or AI interaction. It doesn’t need to be deep; even surface knowledge can unblock your creativity.

• Experiment with AI-powered tools to amplify your productivity and prototype faster.

🛠️ How Replit Empowers Teams

Beyond Developers: Replit isn’t just for engineers. Product managers, marketers, and even lawyers are using it to build tools tailored to their needs. For example, a marketing lead built a competitive analysis tool, and a product team at a public company used Replit to test a v1 app before handing it to engineering.

Breaking Silos: By making code the shared language across teams, Replit bridges the communication gap between product, design, and engineering. The result? Faster prototyping and fewer misinterpretations.

Key Takeaways for Founders and PMs:

• Enable your team to prototype independently. The less they rely on others, the faster they can test and iterate.

• Use tools like Replit to foster cross-functional collaboration and eliminate silos.

• Think of code as the universal language in product development—embrace tools that make it accessible to all.

🌐 The Implications for Product Development

What’s Next: Replit is just the beginning. As AI tools improve, they’ll handle not just MVPs but also scale, maintenance, and complex architectures. This raises questions about software economics—if software becomes cheap to build, how do you differentiate? Amjad’s advice: focus on staying generative and iterating faster than the competition.

The Bigger Picture: AI isn’t just reshaping tech companies; it’s changing what every company can achieve. By lowering the activation energy for building software, AI tools like Replit will unlock a new wave of creativity and entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways for Founders and PMs:

• Stay agile: Ditch rigid roadmaps. Be ready to pivot quickly as new AI capabilities emerge.

• Encourage hybrid roles. Your best team members will be those who can straddle design, product, and engineering.

• Focus on discovery and iteration. The ability to find opportunities and refine them faster than competitors will define success.

⚡ The Road Ahead

Replit is at the forefront of a seismic shift in software creation. By making software accessible to everyone—from school kids to CEOs—it’s changing the game for how products are built, teams operate, and startups launch.

For founders and product managers, the message is clear: embrace the tools that amplify your creativity, rethink traditional roles, and focus on staying generative. The future is wild—and it’s already here.

Want to know more quickly? Just ask the episode below [web only]👇️🤯
or if you prefer, 🎥Watch the full episode here

📅Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction to Repl.it and Its Vision

• 00:02:56 - What is Repl.it? Overview of Features

• 00:06:55 - Repl.it's User Base and Growth

• 00:08:20 - Real-World Example: 11-Year-Old Building an App

• 00:09:05 - Competitive Landscape: Repl.it vs. Other Tools

• 00:10:49 - Demo Introduction: Building with Repl.it

• 00:11:37 - Live Demo: Creating a Web Application

• 00:16:04 - Limitations of Current AI Capabilities

• 00:19:00 - Building MVPs and Iteration Challenges

• 00:20:22 - The Speed of Development with Repl.it

• 00:21:12 - Deploying the Application

• 00:30:14 - Technology Behind Repl.it: AI and Interfaces

• 00:36:00 - Implications for Product Development

• 00:39:47 - Skills for Product Managers and Founders

• 00:44:04 - The Future of Software Development and AI

• 00:48:15 - Amjad's Law: The Value of Learning Code

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 🍽️.