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

Hello, Product Fans!

Get ready to embark on another tasty trip through the bustling world of Product Tapas! 🌶️

🔥 On the Menu This Week:

🎙️ Pod Bites: This week, we're zeroing in on roadmaps. Dive into a discussion from "The Product Podcast," where we unravel the nuances of crafting stellar roadmaps. We’re also trying out our new feature - a chatbot trained on this episode. Ask it anything! 🗺️

🤖 GPT & Tool Time: It's all about turning theory into action with our top 5 GPTs, including the ‘Product Skills GPT’ that’ll help you with PM interviews. 💼

🔥 Not Boring News: We're keeping our finger on the pulse with the latest happenings. From Google’s cookie phase-out to Meta’s AI shuffle, and the OpenAI boardroom drama, we’ve got the hot takes to keep you informed and ahead of the curve. 🌐

And that's just a taste of what's cooking!

So, let's jump right in👇

📰 Not boring

• Google announces plans to eliminate third-party cookies in Chrome, starting with a 1% user testing period early in 2024 and leading to a broader phase-out in Q3

• Facebook-parent Meta breaks up its Responsible AI team, and most have been reassigned to the Generative AI product development team.

• It’s a game of the Hokey Kokey at OpenAI as Altman is ousted and then may make a comeback - deeper dive on timelines below too 👇

• Google is embedding inaudible watermarks right into its AI generated music - lots of development to come in this space as we realise we no longer know what’s real/not

• Upskill: Product metrics for noobs by Jeff Patton get the lowdown on metrics from MTP.

• Apple’s In-House Technologies Team Still Has Plenty of Work to Do

• The IMF is slowly pushing for digital currencies to replace cash 

• AI is eating the world; get the inside track on what Fintech players BREX and Ramp are up to

• Bill Gates has written another piece on how ‘generative AI will change everything’

• Google will make fake AI products to help you find real gifts; ‘search generative experience (SGE) aims to improve online shopping

View more →

📰 Time Saving Tools & GPTs

1. Product Skills GPT (The Product Educator 📚👨‍🏫)

   • Description: Learn skills to be a Product Manager and ace interviews, trained by a product expert & mentor.

   • How can Product Skills GPT assist me in preparing for product management interviews?

   • What essential skills for product management can I learn from Product Skills GPT?

2. Product Management GPT (The Efficiency Enhancer 🚀📈)

   • Description: Brainstorm, work more efficiently, and improve your decision-making as a product manager.

   • Can Product Management GPT help me brainstorm new product features?

   • How can I improve my decision-making skills in product management using Product Management GPT?

3. Product Manager GPT (The Story Crafter 🖋️📖)

   • Description: Helps you create feature stories for your products.

   • How can Product Manager GPT aid in creating compelling feature stories for my product?

   • What are the best practices for storytelling in product management that Product Manager GPT can teach me?

4. Product Manager Mock Prep (The Interview Trainer 🎭🤝)

   • Description: Mock Interview with PM candidates.

   • Can Product Manager Mock Prep provide a realistic mock interview experience for PM roles?

   • What types of interview questions can I expect from Product Manager Mock Prep for PM positions?

5. GPT Product Wizard (The Innovation Conjurer 🧙‍♂️✨)

   • Description: Use GPT Wizard's knowledge of the current GPT marketplace to innovate brand new GPT products.

   • How can GPT Product Wizard assist in developing innovative GPT product ideas?

   • What insights into the current GPT marketplace can GPT Product Wizard provide for product innovation?

Just a heads-up: I've gone through over 15,000 GPTs with a fine-tooth comb to compile the ultimate list of Product Management GPTs, just for you. And guess what? You can snag your free copy just by bringing one friend into our Product Tapas family. Share the love, and the insights! 🚀👇

🫦 Product Bites

🌟 A timeline of Sam Altman’s firing from OpenAI — and the fallout

📖 Read the full article
In the event you’ve been living under a rock… you may not have heard that OpenAI's board gave CEO Sam Altman the boot over the weekend.

What's the Buzz? 🐝 So Sam got fired, his co-founder was kicked from the board and subsequently resigned. But wait, there's more! This was then swiftly followed on Sat/Sunday with news that investors were up in arms, pushing hard to get him back in the captain's chair. Microsoft's big boss, Satya Nadella even piled in backing what Sam does next. Talk about drama! 🍿

So, What's the Big Deal? 🤔 Imagine your favorite sports team mid-season, and suddenly, the star player and coach are out. That's OpenAI right now! With Altman's firing and key players stepping down, we're talking major shake-ups. Investors are not just sitting back; they're calling for a redo. And they mean business – even getting Microsoft in the mix. It's like a high-stakes game of corporate chess. ♟️

Why Should You Care? 💡 If you're into AI (and who isn't these days?), this is big news. The moves at OpenAI could change the game in AI innovation. It's not just about who's running the show; it's about where AI's headed next. Will Altman make a comeback? Will Microsoft play the hero? Stay tuned, because whatever happens next could reshape the AI landscape. 🌐

👀 Why you don’t need a representative sample in your user research

📖 Read the full article

Intro
This is one of my favourite articles on UX research. Now before I get lots of hatemail from proper UX researchers I know this isn’t the be-all and end-all. BUT it’s a great way to think about research and helps keep delivery rolling at a snappy pace.

What's the Buzz? 🐝 Think you need a perfectly representative sample for killer user research? Think again! This article throws a curveball at the idea. It's all about why chasing demographic representativeness in user research might be a wild goose chase. 🏃‍♂️💨

So, What's the Real Deal? 🤔 Aiming for a broad sample can be a huge hassle and might not even fit well with agile methods. Plus, let's be real – it can put a damper on innovation. The article suggests rolling with theoretical sampling instead. It's like jazz – improvising as you go along, collecting and analyzing data on the fly! 🎷

Why Should You Care? 💡 If you're stuck procrastinating and trying to get representative examples for research, this is your wake-up call! 📣 Switching up your user research approach can open doors to more creative solutions and spot those issues that only affect a few users. It's all about getting insights quickly and constantly iterating rather than ticking off demographic boxes. 🧭🌍

This is one I’d definitely recommend reading in full - it’s not long and may change your view on how. todo research!

🤖 Screens are good, actually

📖 Read the full article

What's All the Buzz About? 🐝 You probably saw that Humane dropped the slick AI Pin a couple of weeks back, aiming to replace your phone, but without a screen. This nifty little gadget projects info like calls and media controls right onto your palm. No more screens, just voice interactions. Sounds like sci-fi, but it's real 🌐

So, What's the Big deal? 🤔 Okay, the idea is pretty cool: move through your day minus the digital leash. Humane's founders are betting big on this screenless wonder, thinking it'll help us stay present in the moment. But the Verge has a contrarian view – screens aren't all that bad….. 📱

Why Should You Care? 💁‍♀️ Imagine trying to chill at the post office without your trusty screen to escape to. Or missing out on those cute family videos because, well, no screen. Sure, living in the moment sounds great, but screens have their perks – like quick info access and, let's be real, fun! 😆

Humane's pushing boundaries, and I'm here for it, but is tossing our screens a leap too far? Maybe the future's about balancing screen time with real time, not going full-on screenless. 🤔

🎙️ Pod Review

Getting Curious About Roadmaps? Dive Into This "Product Podcast" Episode!

11 Nov

Written By Alastair Preacher

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes - time saved 32 minutes 🔥

🤔 Intrigued by Roadmaps?

Check out Lily Smith and Randy Silver as they unpack the nitty-gritty of roadmaps on "The Product Podcast." They've got the lowdown on everything from their purpose to crafting them like a pro here.

BUT if you're short on time, no worries – we’ve got you; you’ll find the key takeaways right here! 👇

Summary

Lily Smith and Randy Silver delve into roadmaps with a variety of guests. They explore the purpose of roadmaps, and the different approaches to structuring them, and offer valuable tips for creating effective roadmaps.

🎯 Theme 1: Purpose of Roadmaps: Alignment

First up, Lily and Randy chat about why roadmaps are key. Think of them as your GPS for aligning teams and nailing objectives. Roadmaps serve as a storytelling device, allowing stakeholders to understand the product journey and providing clarity amidst ambiguity. Storm Fagan, Chief Product Officer at the BBC, emphasizes the need for simplicity in roadmaps, focusing on outcomes rather than outputs. She suggests that if a roadmap cannot fit on one slide, it may be too complicated.

📆 Theme 2:Dates or Themes?

What Goes on the Roadmap? To date or not to date, that's the roadmap question! The hosts explore the ongoing debate of whether roadmaps should include specific dates or focus on themes. They acknowledge that it depends on the context and the organization's needs. While dates may be crucial for compliance or time-sensitive projects, themes provide flexibility and allow teams to prioritize outcomes. Roshi Proven and Maggie Crowley both advocate for theme-based roadmaps, emphasizing the importance of empowering teams to find the best solutions within a given theme.

Alexander Hipp suggests that instead of fixed dates, roadmaps should focus on the time allocated to specific items to allow teams to prioritise and allocate resources effectively, emphasising the importance of time investment rather than rigid deadlines.

📈 Theme 3: Roadmaps as Living Documents:

The concept of roadmaps as living documents is emphasized throughout the episode. Cassidy Fine highlights the importance of compiling roadmaps as a team, using them as artefacts for communication and alignment. The roadmap should be accessible to all stakeholders, inviting questions and feedback. It should evolve and adapt as the product journey progresses, reflecting the dynamic nature of product development.

🗣️Theme 4: Metaphors and Language:

Janice Fraser and Petra Vili use pretty neat metaphors for roadmaps. Janice's is like an accordion (detail up close, big picture from afar), and Petra's got this "Onion Roadmap" concept where circles representing value are added over time. Remember, whatever model you use the key is using language everyone gets, try to minimise acronyms and provide explanations when necessary.

🛠️ Theme 5: Pro Tips for Killer Roadmaps

The gang share top tips: involve your team, embrace a bit of vagueness for future plans, and see your roadmap as a guiding intention, not a strict promise.

🧠 Wrap-Up: A Roadmap Masterclass:

Roadmap lowdown: Roadmaps are about storytelling and alignment. Keep things flexible, use a Now, Next Later structure. Don’t be rigid, no-one knows the future be prepared to change the plan. Keep language simple and use terms everyone gets. Embrace vagueness!

Whether you are a seasoned product manager or new to the field, this podcast episode is a great summary of how to enhance your roadmap skills.

⁉️ Got questions?

Want to know more? Why not have a chat with this episode yourself? I know, mind blowing right? You can ask this episode anything 🤯

🔗 Catch the full episode on Mind the Product

And that's a wrap on this week's Product Tapas! 🎉 

Thanks for joining us on this flavorful journey through the world of product management. Keep innovating, sharing, and savouring every moment until our next issue.

Catch you next time, Alastair & the Product Tapas Team 🚀

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