Guest: Alex Komoroske - Founder of a startup reimagining the web for the AI era. Alex spent 13 years at Google working on Search, DoubleClick, Chrome's Open Web Platform, and augmented reality in Google Maps. He also led corporate strategy at Stripe. Key Takeaways: Gardener Mindset: Shift from a builder mindset to a gardener mindset in product development. Focus on nurturing and directing growth rather than strictly controlling it. Embrace Emergence: Encourage bottom-up innovation by creating environments where ideas can emerge naturally. Use strategy salons or "nerd clubs" to foster collaborative debate and idea generation. Adjacent Possible: Focus on the immediate, actionable steps that can lead to larger breakthroughs rather than making large speculative leaps. Organizational Kayfabe: Recognize the disconnect between ground truth and organizational narratives. Understand that kayfabe, or the agreed-upon reality, can obscure real issues. AI as Duct Tape: View AI as a tool that can handle mundane tasks and allow for more creative problem-solving, but be wary of its limitations and the potential for it to "punch users in the face." Topics Covered: AI and product development, gardener vs. builder mindset, organizational kayfabe, adjacent possible, strategy salons, slime molds, productivity tips, life advice.
“Deep thinking takes time and space, and you got to create that space.”
“Software is alchemy. It's the ability to extend human agency beyond ourselves.”
“I want a world where we use this magical duct tape to escape the box.”
