

The FDE Playbook for AI Startups with Bob McGrew
247 snips Sep 12, 2025
Bob McGrew, an early engineer at PayPal and Chief Research Officer at OpenAI, shares insights on the pivotal role of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) in AI startups. He explains how these engineers bridge the gap between advanced AI capabilities and real-world adoption. McGrew discusses customizing solutions and the importance of understanding customer needs. He also reflects on the transformative potential of AI in military strategy. Fast-paced innovation, collaborative dynamics, and continuous learning are highlighted as keys to thriving in this evolving landscape.
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Origin Story: Demo To Embedded Teams
- Palantir began by building demos for spies and iterating with users who rarely explained their work.
- That hands-on demo process evolved into embedding engineers onsite to bridge product and customer needs.
FDEs Turn Services Into Product Discovery
- The forward deployed engineer (FDE) model deliberately flips services into product discovery.
- FDEs build bespoke solutions that product teams then generalize into scalable features.
Staff The Two Core FDE Roles
- Hire two complementary roles: Echo analysts with domain heresy and Delta engineers who prototype fast.
- Use Echoes for user insight and Deltas to deliver rough working prototypes quickly.