Insight certainty 4/5 debate potential 2/5

Traynor: AI builders should explore capabilities before optimizing for cost

Des Traynor · How Intercom transitioned to being AI-first | Des Traynor, Co-Founder of Intercom · Feb 29, 2024 · at 25:36

Des Traynor, co-founder of Intercom, outlines his product management framework for incorporating AI models into software products.

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“I would encourage anyone who's trying to do the You know, it's basically one of those explore then exploit. We are still deeply exploring how much we can transform the nature of CS with AI. When we were confident we finished that exploration, there will be an exploitation phase where we start saying, right, let's turn the dials and let's get this really fine tuned for speed, for price, for all the variables you might think about, even just stuff like hosted in the right region, data governance, all that sort of stuff as well.”

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More from Des Traynor

Opinion
Traynor: There is no line of sight to a trillion-dollar European company
“Like I don't see a line of sight to a trillion dollar company in Europe full stop.”
Des Traynor Feb 29, 2024 ▶ 1:00:34 How Intercom transitioned to being AI-first | Des Traynor, Co-Founder of Intercom
Opinion
Traynor: Customer service is extremely vulnerable in AI's 'kill zone'
“I think genuinely customer service is very much in like the kill zone of AI or whatever. I think it's really you know, it's a very vulnerable space if you don't move with the times.”
Des Traynor Feb 29, 2024 ▶ 3:38 How Intercom transitioned to being AI-first | Des Traynor, Co-Founder of Intercom
Insight
Traynor: AI builders must automate complete outcomes rather than individual minor tasks
“We shouldn't be approaching AI from just simply, how can we automate a task? Or how can we automate a little step? Or like, you know, how can we summarize this paragraph? Or you have to actually look at how can we automate the outcome?”
Des Traynor Feb 29, 2024 ▶ 11:11 How Intercom transitioned to being AI-first | Des Traynor, Co-Founder of Intercom
Insight
Traynor: The era of SaaS is an era of "right-click view source"
“The era of SaaS is an era of like right click view source. You know, ultimately like if there's a single thing you've done, other people can do it. The job is to build a brand around having the best product. And to do that, you often, you have to have the fres…”
Des Traynor Feb 29, 2024 ▶ 22:02 How Intercom transitioned to being AI-first | Des Traynor, Co-Founder of Intercom
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Traynor: AI will accelerate the death of seat-based SaaS pricing
“I do think separate to all this, SaaS is going to be a bit more usage-based and metered anyway. I think the days of, like, seats above all are starting to fade away. AI is going to accelerate it, but I think generally speaking, people are kind of realizing tha…”
Des Traynor Feb 29, 2024 ▶ 42:20 How Intercom transitioned to being AI-first | Des Traynor, Co-Founder of Intercom
Disclosure
Traynor: Many startups in his angel portfolio build thin AI wrappers
“When I like, you know, I also invest in companies and I talk to companies in my portfolio and a lot of them are kind of building these thin wrapper solutions.”
Des Traynor Feb 29, 2024 ▶ 18:59 How Intercom transitioned to being AI-first | Des Traynor, Co-Founder of Intercom
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