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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 Valentine's Day! ❤️

Welcome to a special love-filled edition of 🌮 Product Tapas, where we're sharing our passion for product with an extra sprinkle of heart today…. or something like that! (And yes, it's my birthday too – double the celebration! 🎂)

If you're new here or this was forwarded your way, grab the web version for the best experience and don't forget to subscribe for future editions here – consider it our Valentine's gift to you!

What's cooking this week? 🧑‍🍳

📰 Not Boring – Google's making waves with YouTube's 2025 plans, NotebookLM's upgrade, and fresh Photos features. Plus, we've got Elon's $97.4B OpenAI bid, Meta's mind-reading breakthrough, and Anthropic's bold AGI timeline. Oh, and did you catch Spotify's first profitable year? 🎉

⌚ Productivity Tapas – Meet Remy (your video knowledge navigator), Swatle (next-gen project management), and more AI-powered tools to supercharge your workflow!

🍔 Blog Bites – Dive into DoorDash's winning strategy, master your Product OS with John Cutler, and decode North Star Metrics with real-world examples.

🎙️ Pod Shots – Brian Tolkin, Opendoor's Head of Product, shares golden insights on building exceptional product teams and adapting to AI's influence.

Let's dig in! 🚀

📰 Not boring

• Google Corner

  • YouTube CEO’s big bets for 2025

  • The really rather interesting NotebookLM gets a new look, audio interactivity and a premium version including the ability to personalise voices in the podcast

  • Google Photos is getting new sorting features to cut out chaos

• Interesting post mortem of The Sun’s 2013 paywall attempt from the exec responsible (spoiler, it failed). History repeats

• Tesla sales dropped >50% in much of Europe. Partly thanks to cheaper, better competitors but also because of Elon

• On Elon…. a Musk-Led group made a $97.4 Billion bid for control of OpenAI

• Anthropic released the Anthropic Economic Index (an initiative aimed at understanding AI's effects on labor markets and the economy over time)

  • Plus Dario Dario Amodei (CEO) urges leaders to take AGI seriously at Paris AI Action Summit; oh and said to expect AGI as early as next year, definitely by 2030 👀 

• Meta has a model that can non-invasively read brainwaves and turn them to text with 80% accuracy. 🤯 

• Krea introduces a way to create and edit images simply by chatting

• GitHub Copilot previews agent mode (iterate its own code, propose and guide terminal commands, and analyse and resolve run-time errors) as market for agentic AI coding tools accelerates

  • Plus Copilot now brings mockups to life by generating code from images

• Stripe introduces credits for usage-based billing; clearly a read-across from the AI LLM world. Interested to see how many more follow suit 👀 

• Microsoft Teams is getting a storyline feature (dubbed “one of Facebook's worst features, and I can't see why you'd ever use it” by techradar 😂 

• Adobe releases industry’s first ‘commercially safe’ VLM

• Figma releases its Library Analytics out of beta, allowing teams to create component adoption dashboards, set alerts for low component usage, filter usage by user group/department etc. etc.

• Spotify achieves first full year of profitability, and increases customers by 11% YoY (263m). Product seems to have a big focus on their video player

• LinkedIn video traffic up 36% YoY. Plenty of video haters in my feed mind…

• Mobile app 2025 trends Retention rates are falling, AI and ML are key, driving predictive analytics and real-time optimisation. Mobile ad spend hits $228B, and e-commerce app installs grow 17% YoY, with sessions up 13%

• Uber Shares Fall on Weak First-Quarter Gross Bookings Guidance

• Finally, check out the 2025 Exceptional Startups List

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⌚️ Productivity Tapas: Time-Saving Tools & GPTs

• Remy: Ask any question and get answers from specific parts of the world's videos. i.e. this AI platform finds the exact moments within these videos that answer your questions

• Swatle: Project management 2.0: 1-click chat-task transformation, organise projects within a portfolio, and gain clear insights through reports and charts

• LightningAI AI Hub: Start AI projects from a template. Add AI to your product. Full code. Zero setup

• Talo: Real-Time AI Translator
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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 🔥.

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🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams

Case Study: Why Did DoorDash Win? Their Triple Threat: Strategy, Speed, and Serendipity

Dan Hock’s recent essay (here) covers how DoorDash won the US food delivery war through three key elements: strategic decisions (focusing on suburbs, prioritising selection over speed), relentless execution (rapid product development, operational excellence), and fortunate timing (competitors constrained by public markets during crucial growth period).

Whilst it’s somewhat tricky to plan for serendipity, this is a great case-study of the multiple elements they landed well to maximise their chances of winning

Process & Frameworks: Product OS Design Tips and Principles

Here, John Cutler writes about how Product operating systems need intentional design across multiple dimensions - from rituals and documentation to dependency management and goal setting. Success comes from treating the operating system as a product itself, with senior leaders acting as product managers.

Why It Matters: A well-designed product operating system is crucial for scaling product organisations effectively. Understanding these principles helps leaders create sustainable, adaptable systems that balance structure with flexibility.

Metrics: Billion $ North Star: North Star Metrics Decoded

Bill Kerr recently took a dive into North Start Metrics to show that industry leaders have pretty diverse approaches. From pure revenue focus (Mercury) to customer love (Pocus) and post-accelerator funding success (Startmate). The key is choosing a metric that truly reflects business health and aligns with long-term strategy.

Understanding how successful companies choose and implement their North Star metrics provides food for thought about your own business strategy. These metrics shape company culture, drive decision-making, and ultimately determine success or failure💡.

🎙️ 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

🎯 How to Build the Best Product Teams: Insights from Brian Tolkin, Head of Product @Opendoor

Last week Brian Tolkin, Head of Product at Opendoor and former Uber product leader, was with Harry Stebbings sharing his lessons on building exceptional product teams, navigating the challenges of product development, and adapting to the evolving role of product managers in a world increasingly shaped by AI. It’s another great episode from Harry packed with actionable takeaways for founders and PMs.

 🎥Watch the full episode here

📆 Published: February 7th, 2025

🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins. Time saved: 43 mins🔥

🚀 The Best Product Decisions: Upfront Pricing and Simplification

Brian reflects on one of his most impactful product decisions during his time at Uber: introducing upfront pricing for Uber Pool. Initially, pricing was calculated post-ride based on minutes and miles, which created confusion for users. By showing the price upfront, Uber improved transparency and user trust.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Simplify the user experience wherever possible. Transparency builds trust.

• Focus on the core user need—clarity and predictability often outweigh complexity.

• Great product decisions often come from solving pain points that users may not even articulate clearly.

🌏 Lessons from Launching Uber Pool in China

Launching Uber Pool in China was a monumental challenge. Brian recalls sleeping on the floor of the Uber office the night before launch, grappling with technical issues and the complexities of China’s road infrastructure. The experience taught him the importance of understanding cultural differences and the underlying data that powers a product.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Data is everything: Ensure your product is built on a strong foundation of accurate, localised data.

• Adapt to cultural nuances: What works in one market may not work in another. Design and user preferences vary globally.

• Liquidity matters: For products like Uber Pool, success depends on having enough users to create efficient matches.

🤖 The Changing Role of PMs in an AI-Driven World

Brian believes that while AI will transform the tools and processes PMs use, the core of the role—understanding user needs and aligning them with business goals—remains unchanged. AI will accelerate prototyping, improve user research, and collapse traditional silos between PMs, designers, and engineers.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Embrace AI tools to speed up prototyping and user research.

• The core PM skills—problem definition, prioritisation, and decision-making—are timeless.

• Collaboration between PMs, designers, and engineers will become even more seamless in an AI-driven world.

🛠️ Building a Strong Product Development Process

Brian emphasises the importance of clarity and alignment in the product development process. He predicts that AI will accelerate the early stages of development, allowing teams to skip traditional documentation and move straight to prototyping. I MEAN…not exactly news this is already happening (but still important as not happening everywhere all the time).

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Start with a clear problem definition—don’t jump straight to solutions.

• Use OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to align teams, but keep them focused (3–5 OKRs per team).

• Balance speed and refinement: Ship quickly, but maintain a minimum bar for quality.

🧠 Simplification and the "Kernel of Truth"

Brian describes the PM’s job as finding the "kernel of truth" in a sea of noise. With input coming from executives, users, sales teams, and data, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The key is to distill all this feedback into what truly matters for the user and the business.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Prioritise ruthlessly—focus on what moves the needle for your users and your business.

• Simplification doesn’t mean ignoring complexity; it means managing it effectively.

• Align your team around a single, clear success metric to avoid distractions.

🏗️ From Single to Multi-Product: Lessons in Expansion

Transitioning from a single product to a multi-product company is a challenge many startups face. Brian highlights the importance of protecting the core product while experimenting with new ones in a controlled environment.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Use sandboxes to test new products without risking the core experience.

• New products don’t have to benefit the core product, but they should leverage your company’s competitive advantages.

• Avoid spreading your team too thin—focus on areas where you have a clear right to win.

💡 Hiring the Right Product Team

Brian stresses the importance of hiring PMs who fit the specific needs of the team and the product. He believes in the concept of "PM-team fit," where the PM’s background and skills align with the challenges the team is facing.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Hire for the problem: Match the PM’s skills to the team’s needs (e.g., technical PMs for backend challenges).

• Internal transfers can be a great source of PM talent—they already understand the company and its culture.

• Use take-home assignments or case studies to test clarity of thought and problem-solving skills during the hiring process.

⚡ Managing Momentum and Team Alignment

Maintaining momentum is crucial, especially after setbacks or during slow periods. Brian suggests shipping high-confidence, low-effort projects to build team morale and create a sense of progress.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Momentum matters: Small wins can energise your team and build confidence.

• Alignment isn’t about consensus—it’s about ensuring everyone understands the "why" behind their work.

• Celebrate successes, even small ones, to keep morale high during tough times.

🎨 The Future of Product Development: Breaking Down Silos

Brian envisions a future where AI tools break down silos between PMs, designers, and engineers. He believes this will lead to faster, more collaborative product development processes.

Key Takeaways for Founders & PMs:

• Encourage cross-functional collaboration—AI tools make it easier than ever.

• Don’t let silos slow you down; focus on building a cohesive team that works together seamlessly.

• The best products come from teams that combine diverse perspectives and skill sets.

🏆 Final Thoughts: The Art and Science of Product Leadership

Brian Tolkin’s insights highlight the delicate balance between art and science in product management. Whether it’s simplifying complex problems, navigating the transition to multi-product, or adapting to the rise of AI, the best PMs are those who can combine strategic thinking with a deep understanding of user needs.

For founders and PMs, the lessons are clear: focus on the fundamentals, hire for the problem, and embrace the tools and processes that help you move faster without sacrificing quality. As Brian puts it, "The core PM skills—figuring out what people want and aligning it with the business—will always matter, no matter how much the tools evolve."

 🎥Watch the full episode here

📅Timestamps:

• (00:00) Intro

• (00:44) Lessons from Launching Uber China Pool (

• 04:18) Worst Product Decision at Uber

• (05:55) How AI is Changing the Role of Product Managers

• (08:15) How AI is Transforming Product Development

• (11:55) Balancing Growth vs. Technical Debt at Series A

• (13:23) Should the CEO Also Be the CPO?

• (13:51) Lessons in Expanding from Single to Multi-Product

• 17:16) The Power of Simplification: Finding the Kernel of Truth

• (21:35) Are People Naturally Suited for Certain Company Stages?

• (23:34) Speed vs. Taste: What Matters More in Product Development?

• (28:07) Dictatorial Product Leadership vs. Collaborative Decision-Making (32:32) Lessons from Hiring Mistakes

• (36:54) The Best Backgrounds for Hiring Great PMs

• (40:24) Managing Momentum as a Product Leader

• (41:39) The Case for Staying Longer at One Company

• (43:13) Quick-Fire 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 🍽️.