PRODUCTEA with Leah, Growth & Senior Leadership 105: Melissa Perri - Why "AI" is a terrible strategist
19 snips
May 4, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, product management expert Melissa Perri dives into why AI often fails as a strategic tool for companies. She highlights how simply adding AI without solving real customer problems is a recipe for disaster. Perri reveals the fear legacy companies have of self-disruption and urges organizations to focus on genuine innovation rather than just 'innovation theater.' Additionally, she shares insights on the ethical implications of AI, particularly in sensitive fields like healthcare, reminding us that AI should enhance, not replace, human insight.
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Avoid Slapping AI for Hype
- Do not slap AI on products just for hype or labeling.
- Use AI only if it solves customer problems significantly better or in new ways.
Digits Disrupts Bookkeeping
- Digits transformed accounting by simplifying bookkeeping for small businesses.
- They used AI to automate bank reconciliations, unlike QuickBooks, which is harder for non-accountants.
Legacy Companies Fear Self-Disruption
- Legacy companies fear disrupting their own revenue streams, causing innovation to stagnate.
- Pull out autonomous teams with clear goals to innovate beyond "innovation theater."