EP16 - The Top Five AI Features SaaS Companies Are Shipping In 2025 (And Why They Work)

By the end of this In The Loop episode, you’ll have a clear breakdown of the five categories of AI features SaaS companies are launching right now—and the frameworks product teams can use to design them. From small, delightful UX enhancements to semi-autonomous AI agents and powerful standalone AI-native platforms, I walk you through how companies like Google, Stripe, Notion, Attio, and Mindset AI are thinking about their AI strategy.

After reading Rich Holmes' fantastic analysis from the Department of Product, which reviewed 25+ major AI feature launches, I was inspired to dig into this topic. I’ve taken that foundation and layered on what I’m seeing firsthand with Mindset AI customers and in the AI products we’re building. 

Whether you're a founder, product manager, or just AI-curious, this episode will give you a practical lens for understanding how the next wave of software is being built.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(00:40) – Type 1: Embedded UX—invisible, contextual, yet powerful AI features

(07:00) – Type 2: AI Agents that control existing functionality and why they’re a game-changer

(10:40) – Type 3: Domain-specialized workflow agents tailored to Jobs To Be Done (JTBD)

(13:25) – Type 4: Gen Ai-focused features (glance-over)

(14:05) – Type 5: AI-native standalone apps and how they’re redefining entire categories—while disrupting traditional SaaS

Links & Resources:

🔗 Rich Homes, Department of Product: Deep (on Substack)

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📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀