E
30-Minute Masterclass on Product Thinking | Instagram Co-Founder & Anthropic CPO, Mike Krieger
@ EO
03/26/25
Takeaways
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
As entrepreneurs, we often feel pressured to keep going because we think our investors expect us to, but sometimes it's okay to recognize when it's time to stop pursuing a venture.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
At Stanford, I discovered the Symbolic Systems program, which combines computer science, design, philosophy, and psychology, emphasizing the importance of understanding the context around software development.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
Everything you build should solve a problem for someone; this is the core of design thinking, where you identify problems, research solutions, and validate your ideas.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
Prototyping is crucial; instead of spending months on a project before showing it to anyone, build prototypes and share them throughout the design process to gather feedback early.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
Having the right team is essential for a company's success; partnering with someone who has complementary skills can make a significant difference.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
When we co-founded Instagram, we realized that the core of our product was about taking photos and sharing experiences, which led us to strip away distractions and focus on what truly worked.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
As a product builder, I aim to create something useful today while also being prepared for the next big leap in technology.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
At Artifact, we aimed to combine cutting-edge machine learning with good product design to create personalized experiences, starting with news articles.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
A key lesson from Artifact was that users won't adopt a product just because of the technology; it must also solve a real problem effectively from the start.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
At Anthropic, while our models are intelligent, we must communicate how they can be useful and connect with users, not just highlight their intelligence. We need to design AI tools like Claude to be genuinely useful for people discovering large language models for the first time, providing them with concrete, practical applications in their daily lives.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
It's crucial to quickly understand user intent and personalize the experience. When signing up for Claude, we ask questions to tailor the interaction to the user's needs right from the start.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
When deciding to close a project like Artifact, it's important to evaluate what ideas you still want to explore before shutting it down. Prioritize a few key ideas, test them, and assess their impact on the company's trajectory.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
Entrepreneurs often feel obligated to continue with a failing project due to pressure from themselves or investors. It's essential to set concrete timelines or project goals to know when it's time to move on.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
In product development, it's vital to communicate the capabilities and limitations of AI models upfront, ensuring users have the right expectations about what the technology can and cannot do.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
AI models need to develop a deeper understanding of users beyond single interactions, fostering empathy and contextual awareness to enhance long-term engagement.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
Models should learn when to be proactive and when to step back, mirroring human social cues to create a more natural collaborative experience.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
The future of AI involves models that can provide ongoing insights about users, acting as continuous coaches rather than just responding to isolated queries.
MK
Mike Krieger
03/26/25
@ EO
Entrepreneurship is about envisioning how the world can be different and better, and feeling empowered to make those changes, which has driven my passion from a young age.