AI the Product vs AI the Feature
TLDRThe podcast discussion on AI as a feature rather than a product resonates with the speaker, who uses Clubhouse's rise and fall to illustrate the transient nature of standalone apps. As AI, exemplified by Apple's WWDC and Google I/O, becomes integrated into existing platforms, the debate on whether AI should be a distinct product or an enhancing feature gains momentum. The speaker ponders the future of AI, questioning if history favors features over standalone products and if AI can defy this trend.
Takeaways
- 🤖 AI as a Feature: The discussion revolves around whether AI is better suited as a feature integrated into existing products or as a standalone product.
- 🚀 Rise of Clubhouse: Clubhouse initially gained popularity as a standalone app for live audio events but later became a feature in other platforms like Spotify and Twitter.
- 🔄 Transition of Trends: The success of integrated features in other apps led to the decline of Clubhouse, illustrating the transient nature of standalone apps when faced with competition from feature integrations.
- 📱 Hardware Experiments: Devices like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit r1 attempted to make AI a physical product, but they were not successful.
- 🌐 AI as a Product: The script contemplates what would happen if standalone AI devices worked well, suggesting it could be a product in its own right.
- 🍎 Apple's WWDC Strategy: Apple's approach at WWDC was to integrate AI features across its operating systems, enhancing user experience with AI-powered tools and a new Siri.
- 🛠️ Building In-House Models: Apple has developed its own AI models for various tasks, which is a significant investment in time and resources.
- 🤝 Collaboration with ChatGPT: While Apple has integrated some aspects of ChatGPT, it is not deeply integrated, suggesting a more cautious approach to third-party AI services.
- 🏆 The Challenge for New Entrants: The high barrier to entry for creating and training AI models may limit the number of new successful AI products.
- 🔮 Future of AI: The script ponders whether AI will predominantly be a feature or if it can thrive as a standalone product, with historical examples suggesting a tendency towards features.
- 📈 TikTok and Snapchat Exceptions: The script mentions TikTok and Snapchat as examples of standalone products that have successfully maintained their popularity despite similar features being integrated into other platforms.
Q & A
What was the main point discussed in the Wired podcast about AI that resonated with the speaker?
-The main point discussed was that AI is a feature, not a product, as demonstrated by Apple's WWDC, which integrated AI capabilities throughout its operating systems rather than offering AI as a standalone product.
What is Clubhouse and why was it initially successful?
-Clubhouse is a platform for live audio stage events that became popular during the pandemic era due to its simplicity and the fact that it allowed users to participate in and listen to live discussions, which skyrocketed it to the top of the App Store.
Why did the popularity of Clubhouse decline over time?
-Clubhouse's popularity declined as other major apps like Spotify, Discord, Slack, and Twitter integrated similar live audio features into their platforms, reducing the uniqueness of Clubhouse and making it just another feature rather than a standalone product.
What examples were given of AI as a standalone product?
-Examples given were the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit r1, which were dedicated hardware devices for engaging with AI, representing AI as a product rather than a feature.
How did Apple's WWDC approach the integration of AI into its products?
-Apple systematically added AI features throughout its operating systems, such as writing tools powered by language models and an improved Siri, making AI an integral feature of its ecosystem.
What is the difference between AI as a product and AI as a feature according to the speaker?
-AI as a product refers to standalone devices or platforms dedicated to AI interaction, while AI as a feature means AI capabilities are integrated into existing products or services, enhancing their functionality.
Why did the speaker think Rabbit and Humane were doomed from the start?
-The speaker believes Rabbit and Humane were doomed because they couldn't develop the additional benefits and ecosystem that larger companies like smartphones offer, making it difficult for them to compete as standalone AI products.
What is the significance of Apple building its own AI models as mentioned in the script?
-The significance is that Apple had to invest in creating, training, and licensing its own AI models, which is a high barrier to entry for most companies and indicates that only major players like Apple, Google, or Microsoft are likely to succeed in this area.
What is the speaker's opinion on whether AI will be more successful as a feature or a product in the long run?
-The speaker's opinion is that AI is more likely to be used as a feature in the long run, based on historical trends where standalone products often become features integrated into larger platforms.
What examples did the speaker provide of standalone products that successfully integrated a feature and became more popular than the original?
-The speaker mentioned TikTok as an example of a standalone product that successfully integrated the vertical video carousel feature and became more popular than Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, which implemented similar features.
What is the implication of the script's discussion on the future of AI startups?
-The implication is that AI startups may face significant challenges in developing and training their own AI models, and unless they are backed by major companies, they may struggle to compete with established players that can integrate AI features into their existing products.
Outlines
🤖 AI as a Feature, Not a Product
The script discusses the concept of AI being a feature rather than a standalone product, as exemplified by Apple's WWDC and Google I/O. It uses the example of Clubhouse, a live audio platform that gained popularity but eventually became a feature in larger apps like Spotify and Discord. The script questions whether AI, with devices like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit r1, can be a product or will follow the same fate as Clubhouse. It highlights Apple's approach to integrating AI features into its operating systems, such as writing tools and a new Siri, and contrasts this with the standalone product approach. The discussion also touches on the potential for AI to be both a product and a feature, and the challenges new companies face in developing their own AI models.
🔄 The Evolution of Standalone Products vs. Integrated Features
This paragraph explores the idea of whether a product like TikTok, which is a standalone application with a unique algorithm, can remain successful against similar features integrated into larger platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. It questions the necessity for a product to reach the level of success seen by Snapchat or TikTok to avoid becoming just another feature in a larger ecosystem. The paragraph also points out that all AI models discussed during WWDC, under the Apple Intelligence umbrella, were developed by Apple itself, indicating a high barrier to entry for new companies to develop and train their own models. The script concludes by pondering whether AI can be both a product and a feature, and invites viewers to share their thoughts on the matter.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡AI
💡Feature
💡Product
💡WWDC
💡Clubhouse
💡ChatGPT
💡Apple Intelligence
💡Siri
💡Vertical video carousel
💡Humane AI Pin
Highlights
AI is increasingly seen as a feature rather than a standalone product, as discussed on the Wired podcast.
The rise and fall of Clubhouse illustrates how quickly a unique product can become a common feature in larger platforms.
Examples of major apps like Spotify, Discord, Slack, and Twitter integrating live audio features originally popularized by Clubhouse.
The debate over whether AI should be a product or a feature is ongoing, with historical trends suggesting features may prevail.
The introduction of the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit r1 as attempts to create AI as a product.
WWDC and Google I/O showcased AI integration into existing operating systems rather than as separate products.
Apple's approach to AI includes both building its own models and integrating third-party services like ChatGPT.
AI features in Apple's ecosystem include enhanced writing tools, improved Siri, and image generation capabilities.
The challenge for new companies to develop and train their own AI models due to high costs and data requirements.
The rarity of AI models being developed by companies other than tech giants like Apple, Google, or Microsoft.
TikTok and Snapchat as examples of products that have successfully remained popular despite features being replicated.
The importance of achieving a level of uniqueness and success similar to TikTok or Snapchat to stand out as a product.
The potential for AI to be both a product and a feature, but the historical tendency for features to dominate.
The significance of Apple's investment in creating and training its own AI models for integration into its operating systems.
The discussion around whether AI's future lies in being a product or a feature and the implications for the tech industry.
Invitation for viewers to share their thoughts on whether AI will be more successful as a product or a feature in the comments section.