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 your go-to for the tastiest 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 – AI is transforming creative and productivity tools this week, with Canva, ChatGPT, and Notion all launching major upgrades. Video AI is heating up with impressive new models from Kling and Alphabet, while OpenAI continues its expansion with GPT-4.1 and hints at a social network. Meanwhile, Figma moves toward IPO as creator platforms like Patreon and Deezer roll out new features to boost engagement.

⌚️ Productivity Tapas – Discover tools that help you publish beautiful audio content, add feature flags to AI code editors, ensure content authenticity, and automate workflows through natural language. Pro subscribers get access to our full database of nearly 400 time-saving tools 🔥.

🍔 Blog Bites – Itay Sagie explores how AI agents are rewriting SaaS unit economics, Bill Kerr and Tom Patterson reveal strategies for growing outside app stores, and Andrew Chen explains why every marketing channel currently "sucks" and how to focus on innovative "Little Channels" instead.

🎙️ Pod Shots – Wes Kao, co-creator of AltMBA and co-founder of Maven, shares powerful frameworks for executive communication and influence, including practical tactics for managing up, giving feedback, and leveraging AI as a communication partner.

Plenty to get stuck into - off we go! 🚀

📰 Not boring

• Canva released Visual Suite 2.0 - major AI overhaul for its docs

• ChatGPT memory can now reference ALL of your previous chats

• Netflix is testing a new OpenAI-powered search

• Anthropic launch Claude Research alongside a new Google Workspace integration bringing together information from both your work and the web

• Notion has launched Notion Mail; it organises itself, drafts emails, and schedules meetings any way you’d like. Connect your Gmail—it’s free

• Aqua Voice launches their super fast voice input for both Mac and Windows. Aimed at speed and interoperability over value-add provided by apps such as super-whisper

• Chinese startup Kling launches v2.0; most powerful video model. E.g.here

• Although anyone with Gemini advanced can now also get access to Veo2 Alphabet’s pretty awesome video model

• Open AI corner

  • OpenAI rolls out new GPT4.1; it’s API only, much cheaper than 4o with a bigger context window. TBH I’m lost on all these models, capabilities and names, so stick with my Abacus.Ai aggregator for now

  • That said here’s a new prompting guide for GPT-4.1. Top tip; try this overview 1st

  • OpenAI is also working on its own social network 👀 

  • And finally, they’ve also launched a new image library so you can easily find all the images you’ve created

• Figma ignores the fear, files paperwork for an IPO

• As Deezer approaches profitability, it rolls out a custom algorithm and other new features

• Patreon tests a native live video feature where creators can stream 24/7

• The Stanford 2025 AI Index Report has a stack of charts on, everything AI

• Google is talking to dolphins using Pixel phones and AI - and the video is delightful

• Zipline launches drone delivery in the US (interestingly they started out doing medical delivery across Africa)

⌚️ Productivity Tapas: Time-Saving Tools & GPTs

• Voicenotes Pages: this looks interesting; record something, hit Publish, and done. You get a beautiful page where your audience can listen, subscribe, and ask questions. Could be a neat way to do release notes, or similar 🤔

• Bucket: allows you to add feature flags to your favourite AI code editor. YES vibecode feature flags to windsurf, Cursor, Bolt, etc. etc. Early access here

• Origninality.ai: editorial toolset to ensure your content is original and accurate in the world of Generative AI

• Noiz: AI PDF summariser, turn any document into a clear summary

• n8nChat: n8n is a workflow automation platform that uniquely combines AI capabilities with business process automation. n8nChat brings AI directly into your n8n workflow editor. Describe what you want to automate in plain English, and watch as it instantly generates complete nodes and workflows. Looks pretty wild.

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

Rethinking Unit Economics: How AI Agents Are Rewriting the SaaS Playbook

Itay Sagie explores how AI agents are transforming SaaS business models, challenging traditional metrics like LTV/CAC and the Rule of 40. By embedding AI across workflows, SaaS companies can unlock new efficiencies and redefine success benchmarks. Read the full article here.

💡 "AI is moving from assistive to autonomous; from tools to teammates."

Growth: How to Grow Outside the App Stores

Bill Kerr and Tom Patterson explore strategies for app developers to grow revenue and improve margins by selling outside traditional app stores. This Web2App approach complements app store strategies, offering flexibility in pricing, marketing, and customer retention. Read the full article here.

💡 "Apple are not the pirates anymore. They are the tax collectors of the Internet."

Marketing: Every marketing channel sucks right now

In Andrew Chen’s latest post he goes hard on critiquing the current state of marketing channels, highlighting their inefficiencies and saturation. He advocates for startups to focus on innovative, smaller-scale strategies ("Little Channels") and adapt to new technologies for growth. Read the full article here.

💡 "Over time, all marketing strategies result in shitty clickthrough rates."

Chen encourages startups to innovate in both product and marketing, avoiding reliance on outdated, oversaturated channels while embracing creativity and experimentation.

🎙️ 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

🎙️ Mastering Communication and Influence with Wes Kao

It’s been a minute but we’re back with another from Lenny. In this episode of Lenny’s Podcast, Wes Kao, co-creator of the AltMBA with Seth Godin and co-founder of Maven, shares her expertise on executive communication, influence, and leadership. Wes recently launched her own course on executive communication and influence, and she dives deep into actionable frameworks and tactics of how to become world-class communicators.

 🎥Watch the full episode here

📆 Published: April 6th, 2025

🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins. Time saved: 90 mins🔥

🌟 Why Communication is the Ultimate Leadership Skill

Wes emphasises that communication is not just about writing emails or giving presentations—it’s a means to achieve outcomes like buy-in, alignment, and decision-making. She highlights the importance of taking ownership of how your communication impacts others and shares her philosophy:

• Reflect on Your Role: If people aren’t responding as you’d like, ask yourself, “How might I be contributing to this?”

• Practice Like It’s Game Day: Treat every interaction as an opportunity to refine your communication skills, not just when presenting to executives.

Wes’s Tip: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

🛠️ Actionable Frameworks for Better Communication

Wes shares several practical frameworks and tactics to improve both verbal and written communication:

1. Sales, Then Logistics

• The Problem: People often jump into logistics without first selling the idea, leading to confusion or apathy.

• The Solution: Start by explaining why the task or idea matters, then move into the details.

• Example: Instead of saying, “Fill out this form by Friday,” explain, “This will help us highlight your team’s wins and motivate the company.”

2. MOO (Most Obvious Objection)

• The Problem: People feel blindsided by questions or objections they could have anticipated.

• The Solution: Spend a few minutes thinking about the most obvious objections to your idea and address them proactively.

• Example: If pitching a new feature, anticipate concerns about resource allocation and address them upfront.

3. Be Concise, Not Brief

• The Problem: People equate conciseness with brevity, leading to incomplete or unclear communication.

• The Solution: Focus on the economy of words—make every word count while ensuring clarity.

• Tactic: Before sending a message, ask, “How might I be adding cognitive load?”

4. Signposting

• The Problem: Long memos or presentations can overwhelm readers or listeners.

• The Solution: Use signposting words like “for example,” “because,” and “as a next step” to guide your audience through your message.

5. Strategy, Not Self-Expression (Feedback Framework)

• The Problem: Feedback often turns into venting, which demoralises or alienates the recipient.

• The Solution: Focus on motivating behaviour change by trimming unnecessary emotional content and highlighting the benefits of change.

🧠 Managing Up and Delegating Effectively

Managing Up

• Key Insight: Managing up is not just for junior employees—it becomes even more critical as you grow in your career.

• Tactic: Always share your point of view with your manager. Instead of asking, “What should we do?” say, “Here’s what I think we should do. What do you think?”

Delegating with High Standards

Wes introduces the CEDAF Framework for effective delegation:

1. Comprehension: Ensure the person understands the task and has all necessary resources.

2. Excitement: Explain why the task matters and how it fits into the bigger picture.

3. De-Risk: Identify and address potential risks upfront.

4. Align: Confirm alignment by asking questions and clarifying expectations.

5. Feedback: Shorten the feedback loop to catch issues early.

📚 Recommended Resources

Books

1. High Output Management by Andy Grove

2. Your Brain at Work by Dr. David Rock

3. On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Tools

• Swipe File: Create a collection of inspiring examples (e.g., great writing, design, or strategy docs) to reference and learn from.

🤖 Leveraging AI for Communication

Wes shares how she uses AI tools like Claude as a thought partner:

• Drafting Responses: Paste in an email or message and ask the AI to help craft a reply.

• Iterative Feedback: Edit the AI’s response to match your voice, then ask for further improvements.

• Example: “I need to decline this request respectfully. Can you help me draft a response that maintains a positive relationship?”

Wes’s Tip: “The more context you give the AI, the better the output. Share your thought process and goals to get more tailored results.”

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. Communication is a Skill: Treat it as a means to achieve outcomes, not just an end in itself.

2. Invest Upfront: Spend a little more time preparing your messages, anticipating objections, and clarifying your thinking.

3. Empathy is Key: Always consider your audience’s perspective and how they might react to your message.

4. Leverage AI: Use tools like Claude or ChatGPT to enhance your communication and save time.

📖 Learn More

• Wes’s Course: Executive Communication and Influence

• Follow Wes: LinkedIn

 🎥Watch the full episode here

📅Timestamps:

• (00:00) Introduction to Wes Kao

• (05:34) Working with Wes

• (06:58) The importance of communication

• (10:44) Sales before logistics

• (18:20) Being concise

• (24:31) Books to help you become a better writer

• (27:30) Signposting and formatting

• (32:05) How to develop and practice your communication skills

• (40:41) Slack communication

• (42:23) Confidence in communication

• (50:17) The MOO framework

• (54:00) Staying calm in high-stakes conversations

• (57:36) Which tactic to start with

• (58:53) Effective tactics for managing up

• (01:04:53) Giving constructive feedback: strategy, not self-expression

• (01:09:39) Delegating effectively while maintaining high standards

• (01:16:36) The swipe file: collecting inspiration for better communication

• (01:19:59) Leveraging AI for better communication

• (01:22:01) Lightning round

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 🍽️.