Josh Miller, Founder and CEO of The Browser Co, talks about the creation of Arc Search from a side project, the 'Browse for Me' AI feature, and the importance of solving user problems over fancy hooks. He also discusses three strategies for AI integration and the perils of leading with consumer hooks. Should cost be a key consideration when developing AI? Listen to find out!
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Quick takeaways
Arc Search began as a mobile browser project, AI was a last-minute addition for instant search results.
Attention to tiny details enhances consumer AI experience, like haptic feedback and topical bullet points.
Prototyping, learning, and iterating are crucial in overcoming AI implementation challenges and finding successful features.
Deep dives
Arc Search Origin Story
Arc Search did not start as an AI project. The team wanted a better default mobile browser, so they worked on reimagining the mobile web browser with no constraints. The focus was on being the fastest way to look something up on your phone. AI came in at the end as a last-minute change to provide users with the one perfect tap. The goal was to bring the perfect webpage instantly without the need for further searching.
The Importance of Interaction Details
The team realized that the tiniest interaction details make a difference in a consumer AI experience. Features like topical bullet points and haptic feedback while loading create a seamless and delightful user experience. Paying attention to these details is crucial in building a successful AI product.
Challenges of AI Implementation
The team faced challenges in implementing AI features, but by prototyping and learning along the way, they have found success. Initial ideas that seemed promising didn't always work out, while other features like five-second previews became unexpectedly popular. It is important to be open-minded, prototype, and iterate to find what resonates with users.
Different Strategies for AI Integration
There are different strategies for integrating AI into products. Some companies start from scratch with a new product, while others gradually incorporate AI into existing features. The Arc Search experience involved starting with a specific problem and value proposition and then leveraging AI to enhance the browsing and searching process.
Future of AI in Browsing Experience
Arc Search challenges the dominance of traditional search engines by providing a cohesive and user-centric browsing experience. It aims to diminish reliance on traditional search by offering convenient and tailored solutions for users' queries. With continuous innovation and cost reduction in AI technology, Arc Search sees potential in changing the way people use the internet.
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
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