The chapter explores the journey of the Arc Search project, initially created as a mobile browser with a focus on quick search results. It delves into the incorporation of AI in the project's development and the evolution into a personalized search tool with unique features like 'browse for me'. The discussion also includes the impact of AI on user experience and competitive strategy in the browser market.
Josh Miller, Founder and CEO of The Browser Co, joins this week. We loved the experience with Arc Search, a new AI-enabled mobile search experience, we decided to talk to Josh directly about how it all came together.
Topics:
* How Arc Search came to be spawned out of basically a side project
* The core value of "we don't know"
* How the key AI feature 'Browse for Me' was not the initial concept, but came to be added last minute
* Josh's initial skepticism about AI, up until just a few months ago, and what flipped him
* Three strategies for AI integration
* The perils of leading with consumer hooks, how that derailed Browser Co, and focusing on solving problems
* Should cost be a key consideration when developing AI?
Hope you enjoy us mixing it up this week by talking with someone wrestling with building in the space. Drop us a line on twitter at @nabeel and @fraser with what you want to hear more (or less) of.
- (00:00) - Intro
- (01:02) - Welcome Josh, CEO of The Browser Company
- (02:51) - The origin of Arc Search
- (05:12) - Browse For Me
- (06:55) - Overview of Arc Search
- (16:51) - Thinking about competition
- (25:08) - User problems over elegant hooks
- (29:25) - Three strategies for AI integration
- (34:51) - The importance of prototyping
- (40:28) - The future of desktop search
- (46:01) - Thinking about costs when building with AI