AI Mode’s Genesis: From Overviews to a Full Conversational Surface

Robby Stein is VP of Product at Google, where he oversees the core products of Google Search—including the new AI Overviews, AI Mode, search ranking, Google Lens, and more. Previously, he led consumer products at Instagram, where he and his teams built Stories, Reels, Close Friends, and other key features now used by billions.

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What you’ll learn:

Why Google’s AI products are suddenly taking off after years of perceived stagnation 

How AI is expanding Search rather than replacing it, contrary to what many predicted 

The three core product principles that have helped Robby build multiple billion-user products 

Inside Instagram’s decision to build its own version of Snapchat Stories 

His mantra of “relentless improvement” 

How Google developed AI Mode from concept to launch in just one year 

Why most teams give up too early on potentially transformative products 

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Brought to you by:

Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security: https://vanta.com/lenny

Jira Product Discovery—Confidence to build the right thing: https://atlassian.com/lenny/?utm_source=lennypodcast&utm_medium=paid-audio&utm_campaign=fy24q1-jpd-imc

Orkes—The enterprise platform for reliable applications and agentic workflows: https://www.orkes.io/

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Transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-google-built-ai-mode-in-under-a-year

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My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/175041217/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation⁠

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Where to find Robby Stein:

• X: https://x.com/rmstein

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbystein/

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Referenced:

• Google Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app

• Nano Banana: https://aistudio.google.com/models/gemini-2-5-flash-image

• Chat GPT: https://chatgpt.com/

• Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/

• Google Lens: https://lens.google/

• AI Google search: https://www.google.com/ai

• Why ChatGPT will be the next big growth channel (and how to capitalize on it) | Brian Balfour (Reforge): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/why-chatgpt-will-be-the-next-big-growth-channel-brian-balfour

• Alex Rampell on X: https://x.com/arampell

• A 4-step framework for building delightful products | Nesrine Changuel (Spotify, Google, Skype): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-4-step-framework-for-building-delightful-products

• Look broader, look closer, think younger: Tony Fadell speaks at TED2015: https://blog.ted.com/look-broader-look-closer-think-younger-tony-fadell-speaks-at-ted2015/

• Jobs to Be Done: https://www.christenseninstitute.org/theory/jobs-to-be-done/

• The ultimate guide to JTBD | Bob Moesta (co-creator of the framework): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-jtbd-bob-moesta

• Rinstagram or Finstagram? The curious duality of the modern Instagram user: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/26/rinstagram-finstagram-instagram-accounts

• V03: https://v03ai.com/

• Pirate GPT: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/silentmeditation/pirate-gpt/

• The Bear on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/series/the-bear-05eb6a8e-90ed-4947-8c0b-e6536cbddd5f

• Dune on HBO Max: https://www.hbomax.com/movies/dune/e7dc7b3a-a494-4ef1-8107-f4308aa6bbf7

• Top Gun: Maverick: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745960/

• Purple pillows: https://purple.com/pillows

• Avocado pillow: https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com/products/green-pillow

• Justin Bieber’s website: https://www.justinbiebermusic.com/

• Scooter Braun’s website: https://scooterbraun.com/

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Recommended books:

• Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice: https://www.amazon.com/Competing-Against-Luck-Innovation-Customer/dp/0062435612

• The Design of Everyday Things: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded/dp/0465050654

• Aurora: https://www.amazon.com/Aurora-High-Stakes-Survival-Navigate-Darkness/dp/0062916475

• Project Hail Mary: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135202

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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.

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Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.