
Lightcone Podcast The FDE Playbook for AI Startups with Bob McGrew
344 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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
How Palantir's Ontology Was Born
- Palantir invented its ontology by avoiding rigid tables and letting objects be defined per customer.
- That higher-level abstraction enabled true multi-customer deployments.
Prevent FDEs From Becoming Consultants
- Maintain strict discipline to avoid devolving into pure consulting.
- Ensure FDEs solve high-value problems, not just easy, visible tasks for sponsors.
AI Agents Need FDEs Because There Is No Incumbent
- AI agents have no incumbent product and cover many different use cases, creating huge product-discovery needs.
- That lack of incumbents makes the FDE approach particularly effective for AI startups.




