“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies Nextdoor’s CPO on “The Great AI Divide”: Tinkerers vs Resisters
Sep 18, 2025
Bryan Power, Head of People at Nextdoor, brings extensive expertise in AI and people operations. He discusses the transformative potential of AI in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of treating AI as teammates. Bryan shares insights on Project Neighbor and practical strategies like scheduling one-on-ones with custom GPTs. He also advocates for hands-on AI training and low-stakes tinkering to empower employees. The conversation wraps up with a humorous segment on despised corporate jargon, blending serious insights with lighthearted fun.
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Early Friction Hides Long-Term Gain
- Many people resist AI because early use feels slow and distracting compared to known workflows.
- Bryan argues the initial time cost is temporary and learning unlocks lasting productivity gains.
Project Neighbor And A Year Of Tinkering
- Bryan leads Nextdoor's cross-functional AI initiative called Project Neighbor and partners with IT and engineering.
- He used personal tinkering and team continuity to push practical AI experiments over the past year.
Create Hands-On AI Training Quickly
- Do build internal training and run it yourself if needed to accelerate adoption.
- Use AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to create course content quickly and then teach the class to learn faster.