Hi Product people,

How do we leverage AI to enhance our products while maintaining the essential human touch?

This week on the Product Thinking Podcast, I had an insightful conversation with Jody Bailey, the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Stack Overflow. We explored the complexities of integrating AI into product strategies and how Stack Overflow is redefining its role in the AI landscape.

"Our approach is to build trust, have the team find ways that AI works for them, and then integrate that into the way we do work."

Jody shared how Stack Overflow is not only adapting to technological advancements but also ensuring that their core strengths, like human connection and technical knowledge, remain central.

We discussed the importance of focusing on solving user problems rather than just deploying AI solutions for the sake of it. Jody's perspective on balancing innovation with the foundational aspects of product management was truly enlightening.

It's a reminder that even as we embrace new technologies, the human element should never be sidelined.

Have you integrated AI into your product strategy? I'd love to hear your experiences. Reply here or join the conversation on LinkedIn!

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Apple | Spotify

Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you soon,

Melissa Perri

Founder Product Institute, Board Member, and Teacher

You'll hear us talk about:

06:52 - Building Trusted AI Knowledge for Enterprises

Jody Bailey describes Stack Overflow's enterprise solution that maintains a positive feedback environment and identifies subject matter experts. He emphasizes the need for a trusted knowledge layer to manage and distribute proprietary information within organizations.

13:43 - Leveraging Core Strengths in the AI Era

Jody discusses how Stack Overflow is focusing on its core strengths, such as human connection and technical information, to position itself as a vital source for technologists in a world increasingly turning to AI tools for quick answers.

19:52 - Trust, Adoption, and the Limits of AI in Development Work

The conversation covers the importance of trust in Stack Overflow's community and how the platform ensures transparency and reliability, especially when integrating AI into its offerings. Jody highlights the need for a balanced approach to using AI without compromising on human interaction and knowledge.

Episode resources:

Jody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodybailey/

Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/

Other Resources:

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