I really like this approach and I can confirm that it also works in my context. I wonder though how much is this AI-specific vs. general way of making products. The second thought - learnings in AI are crucial; the field is so fresh that by playing with it you can find many applications that no one has thought about before. Moreover, there are capabilities which are AI specific, ie in a traditional world you wouldn’t thought it’s even possible to do something (ergo you wouldn’t put that on roadmap beforehand)
You're spot on—there’s definitely a broader truth here that goes beyond AI. The idea of creating space for unexpected insights and letting diverse perspectives collide is powerful in any product context. AI brings an exciting twist. Because it's constantly evolving and breakthroughs happen so quickly, we often find ourselves in unfamiliar territory where exploration takes priority over rigid planning.
What I love about working in AI is exactly what you pointed out: you sometimes stumble upon capabilities that challenge traditional thinking. It’s like realizing you’ve been building with a hammer your whole life, and suddenly someone hands you a laser cutter. The roadmap metaphor breaks because you're not just deciding WHERE to go—you’re figuring out WHAT ROADS EXIST in the first place.
Maybe that’s the magic here: AI forces us to embrace a mindset of exploration over execution. And you're absolutely right, the “play” aspect is crucial. The more we experiment, the more we uncover those "hidden" possibilities that no roadmap could ever predict.
What would it look like if we designed product roadmaps to leave space for the “unimaginable”? Not just room for iteration, but for completely rethinking the rules mid-journey? I’d love to hear about any moments where AI shattered your assumptions or revealed something that felt like science fiction suddenly turned real. I believe we should keep pushing these ideas further—who knows what we’ll discover next?!
This resonates so deeply with my approach to digital transformation! The best innovations often come when we stop trying to control everything - something I learned the hard way while leading e-commerce platforms across publishing and retail industries.
That part about treating uncertainty as a garden really hit home. When I automated business operations with AI, our biggest breakthroughs happened in those unstructured moments between formal meetings. Turns out, innovation doesn't care about our carefully planned schedules D:
Here's what I've noticed in digital leadership: The more we create space for "beautiful surprises," the more innovative our solutions become.
Wow, what a great perspective—thank you for sharing that! It’s so true that innovation often finds its way through the spaces we don’t plan for. Those "beautiful surprises" you highlighted are a reminder of the value of welcoming the unpolished and letting things flow naturally.
Your experience with automation and uncovering breakthroughs in those unstructured moments is fascinating. It’s often in that "garden of uncertainty" where innovation takes root. I'm curious, were there any deliberate steps you took to encourage those moments in your leadership role?
Thanks again for enriching this conversation—let’s keep diving into the unknown and letting curiosity lead the way! 🌟🗺️
I really like this approach and I can confirm that it also works in my context. I wonder though how much is this AI-specific vs. general way of making products. The second thought - learnings in AI are crucial; the field is so fresh that by playing with it you can find many applications that no one has thought about before. Moreover, there are capabilities which are AI specific, ie in a traditional world you wouldn’t thought it’s even possible to do something (ergo you wouldn’t put that on roadmap beforehand)
You're spot on—there’s definitely a broader truth here that goes beyond AI. The idea of creating space for unexpected insights and letting diverse perspectives collide is powerful in any product context. AI brings an exciting twist. Because it's constantly evolving and breakthroughs happen so quickly, we often find ourselves in unfamiliar territory where exploration takes priority over rigid planning.
What I love about working in AI is exactly what you pointed out: you sometimes stumble upon capabilities that challenge traditional thinking. It’s like realizing you’ve been building with a hammer your whole life, and suddenly someone hands you a laser cutter. The roadmap metaphor breaks because you're not just deciding WHERE to go—you’re figuring out WHAT ROADS EXIST in the first place.
Maybe that’s the magic here: AI forces us to embrace a mindset of exploration over execution. And you're absolutely right, the “play” aspect is crucial. The more we experiment, the more we uncover those "hidden" possibilities that no roadmap could ever predict.
What would it look like if we designed product roadmaps to leave space for the “unimaginable”? Not just room for iteration, but for completely rethinking the rules mid-journey? I’d love to hear about any moments where AI shattered your assumptions or revealed something that felt like science fiction suddenly turned real. I believe we should keep pushing these ideas further—who knows what we’ll discover next?!
This resonates so deeply with my approach to digital transformation! The best innovations often come when we stop trying to control everything - something I learned the hard way while leading e-commerce platforms across publishing and retail industries.
That part about treating uncertainty as a garden really hit home. When I automated business operations with AI, our biggest breakthroughs happened in those unstructured moments between formal meetings. Turns out, innovation doesn't care about our carefully planned schedules D:
Here's what I've noticed in digital leadership: The more we create space for "beautiful surprises," the more innovative our solutions become.
Wow, what a great perspective—thank you for sharing that! It’s so true that innovation often finds its way through the spaces we don’t plan for. Those "beautiful surprises" you highlighted are a reminder of the value of welcoming the unpolished and letting things flow naturally.
Your experience with automation and uncovering breakthroughs in those unstructured moments is fascinating. It’s often in that "garden of uncertainty" where innovation takes root. I'm curious, were there any deliberate steps you took to encourage those moments in your leadership role?
Thanks again for enriching this conversation—let’s keep diving into the unknown and letting curiosity lead the way! 🌟🗺️