AI Career Boost

Even with 10 years experience as a developer, I find 0-to-deployment code generation tools frustrating when trying to build prototypes. Here's why: - they tend to get you 70% of the way there - to get the last 30% you now have to go back and understand what the tool generated to fix it (and it generates a LOT!) Non-engineers are frustrated; those with engineering backgrounds are much more likely to think of their own system design and 'frame in' pieces as they go. It's the standard difference between experts driving AI vs. novices: experts can use it judiciously and get real value, where novices can get to something that 'looks right' but doesn't really hit the mark. The solution for non-coders? At least some basics in Python is a good start :) That's why I created the Python for Product Leaders: Enough to be Dangerous with AI. It takes just 2 hours to understand enough basic syntax and the tools to make your own AI API calls to tools like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. We kick off January 30th - and seats are filling fast! Register today - link in comments. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I'm Polly. I transitioned to product after 10 years as a software developer and development manager, and led the first generative AI answers on Alexa back in 2020. Now I help less-techy business and product leaders transition and thrive leading AI teams and projects. ** Follow my AI Career Boost newsletter for subscriber-only discounts & early access! **

Time for a raw, unfiltered look at my 2024 AI predictions - because if we're not willing to own our misses, we shouldn't be in the prediction game at all. 🎯 Looking back at the predictions I made in my Masterclass in December 2023, here's what I called for 2024: ✅ ✅ RAG moving beyond unstructured text to structured data - and wow, did enterprise AI prove this right as the real money started flowing into unlocking trapped value in databases, not docs. 😑 "Models Run Code" - I saw a slice of the revolution but missed the full feast. The real transformation wasn't just about code execution - it was about models wielding tools like digital swiss army knives, reshaping our entire concept of AI capabilities. ✅ Multi-modal models - called this when Gemini was just breaking cover. Now? It's not even a prediction, it's just the cost of entry into the AI game. ✅ Agents - I knew this would be the game-changer, but even I underestimated the frustrating gap between possibility and practice. After years of "imagine it - ship it" cycles measured in days, watching real-world agent value emerge felt like watching paint dry. But now that it's here? It's eating everything in sight. ✅✅My sleeper hit? Small, specialized models. While everyone was obsessed with parameter counts, the real business revolution was brewing in efficiency corner. Sometimes the quietest trends pack the biggest punch. What did I miss? That's why we do this - to learn, adapt, and stay hungry. Want my 2025 takes? ▶️ Catch the year-end wrap party of AI After Hours podcast with Yuying Chen-Wynn 🔔 Hit subscribe on the AI Career Boost newsletter 🔗 Join my upcoming free Masterclass on "The Path to AI Product Leadership" Links in comments. Let's see who else is brave enough to revisit their 2024 predictions! #AI #FutureOfTech #TechPredictions #AIStrategy

If you watch only one episode of AI After Hours podcast this year - make it our year-end 2024 round up: the good, the bad, and the DEAD in 2024. What trends and features were the highlights and lowlights? What tools and trends went the way of the dodo (yes, we've seen AI extinction events already!!) Yuying Chen-Wynn and I have been getting tipsy and ranting about the BS in AI for a year officially now - it's time look back and celebrate. Happy Holidays!!

🚨 "Oh no... we're falling into these exact traps right now!" This was the flood of messages I received after yesterday's Maven Lightning Talk on AI Product Traps. If you missed it, don't worry – the replay is now available! In just 45 minutes, Rupa Chaturvedi and I broke down: • Why AI pilots fail to gain traction (and how to fix it) • The hidden UX opportunities most teams miss • How to cut through the AI architecture chaos But here's the thing: After watching, many of you asked "What's next? How do I actually BUILD something that gets to production and gets adoption?" 🎓 That's why we're launching a 2-week intensive this December: "Mastering AI Product Strategy: From Ideas to MVP" You'll walk away with: • The clear path to an AI portfolio project that delivers actual value • Step-by-step framework to avoid common AI traps • Confidence and tools to build AI products (no coding required!) Perfect for both AI newcomers AND experienced pros looking for the fastest path to shipping impactful AI products. 🎯 Start with the free replay to get a taste: https://lnkd.in/gcD_7Qi3 Then comment below with "MLP" (minimum *Loveable* Product) to learn more about joining our December cohort - for a **25% discount**! #AIStrategy #ProductManagement #Innovation #Leadership

"We have the AI capabilities, but our pilots aren't gaining traction..." "The team is excited about AI, but we're struggling to show business impact..." "Everyone's talking about AI transformation, but where do we actually start?" Sound familiar? 🤔 You're not alone. Working with product and business leaders in my courses and fractional/advisory work, I hear the same themes again and again. AI has such potential - but where's the payoff? That's why Rupa Chaturvedi and I put together our Lightening Talk, "Top 3 AI Product Traps in 2024 (and how to fix them!)" that's happening tomorrow morning. We have close to 500 product and business leaders joining to hear what top companies are doing to nip problems in the bud by putting user value first, thinking bigger about UX options and outrunning the avalanche of architecture options in AI. Join us to be ahead of the game in 2025! Link in comments below. See you tomorrow!

🤔 Everyone's talking about AI's potential. But here's what keeps me up at night: I see brilliant product & design leaders hesitating to take their first steps with AI. Not because they lack vision – but because turning AI possibilities into real, valuable products feels like navigating uncharted waters. That's why Rupa Chaturvedi and I are thrilled to launch "Mastering AI Product Strategy: From Ideas to MVP" on Maven as part of their AI-Powered Professionals Collection – a hands-on course born from our experience leading AI initiatives at Amazon, Meta, and beyond. This isn't theory. It's your practical roadmap to: 💡Identify which problems truly need AI (and which don't) ✍ Design AI experiences users will trust & adopt 🤖 Get the technical depth leaders need to make architecture trade-off choices ⚒️ Understand the landscape of tools to build your first AI prototype with confidence (n coding required!) 🗺️ Complete compelling AI roadmaps that deliver real value Our previous 12 cohorts earned exceptional NPS scores for one reason: We focus on what works. No hype. No fluff. Just battle-tested frameworks and strategies you can apply immediately. Next cohort starts December 3rd - and limited spaces remain! We're so excited to be part of your journey into AI and the art of the possible. Signup Link in Comments, and join us for our FREE Lightening Lesson on Monday! #ProductManagement #DesignLeadership #AI #Innovation

How long will we go on bowing to the pressure to "just add AI" to everything? 🤔 Product and design leaders SEE the problem - but feel powerless to fight back against top-down directives. Let's fix that 💪 Let's be real: As product and design leaders, we're caught in a tough spot. Leadership is pushing for AI features yesterday, but our instincts are screaming that we're doing this backwards. Here's what I hear that's keeping leaders up at night: ✅ "Our roadmap suddenly looks like an AI capability checklist" 😎 "User problems are taking a backseat to 'cool tech'" 🤔 "We're shipping features that users aren't asking for (or wanting!)" Sound familiar? You're not alone. In fact, this "Feature-First Fumble" is one of the top 3 traps I'm seeing teams fall into in 2024. Want to learn how successful teams are aligning AI with actual user needs instead of force-fitting features? How about the 'magic words' to use with leadership to get them on board with more user-first development? Join me and Rupa Chaturvedi (Head of Merchant Design at Uber, Stanford Lecturer) on Nov 18th for a lightning talk on "The Top 3 AI Product Traps in 2024 - And How to Fix Them." We'll share real examples, practical frameworks, and honest talk about what's working (and what's not) in AI product development. No theory - just battle-tested strategies from AI veterans who've been there. 🗓️ Mon, Nov 18, 9:00 AM PST ⏱️ 45 minutes 💡 FREE signup in comments #AIProduct #ProductManagement #DesignLeadership #ProductStrategy #AI