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Unsolicited Feedback — Technology
Unsolicited Feedback

Tired of interview podcasts? Us too. That’s why we created Unsolicited Feedback – the podcast that should have come out 5 years ago, but we’re making it anyway. In this podcast, Brian Balfour (Reforge, HubSpot), Fareed Mosavat (Reforge, Slack) and friends provide unfiltered feedback on the products they actually use, along with key product lessons.

Essentially, we’re taking the conversations that happen between experts at invite-only happy-hours and delivering them to the podcast platform of your choice.

Although no one asked for their opinions, they’re sharing them. It’s like eating Goodles when you want Kraft Mac n Cheese, or Olipop when you want Pepsi – it feels wrong, yet so right.

Each week, they analyze recent announcements, features, and releases across product and growth. The hosts make predictions about where Threads and Twitter will be in a year, and analyze unparalleled growth loops at LinkedIn. They give respect where it’s due, but also deliver tear-downs when the writing’s on the wall. Sorry, not sorry!

Latest Episodes:

Unsolicited Feedback S3, E2: Product Management In The Age of AI, featuring Shaun Clowes Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Brian and Fareed discuss the challenges facing product managers in the AI era with Shaun Clowes, CPO at Confluent.

Many product professionals are questioning their future as traditional PM workflows—documentation, basic prioritization, and coordination—become increasingly automated. Yet this technological shift isn't eliminating the product management function; rather, it's elevating what has always differentiated exceptional PMs from average ones. While low-value processes are being automated away, the core elements that create product success—strategic vision, judgment, taste, and leadership—are becoming dramatically more valuable.

Product Market Fit Collapse: The AI Tipping Point w/ Casey Winters (Season 3 Premier) Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

The Unsolicited Feedback podcast is back for a season 3. We kicked off episode 1 with Casey Winters going deeper on Product Market Fit Collapse. In this episode we discuss:

Unlike previous tech shifts (mobile, internet), AI is causing exponential rather than linear increases in customer expectations
The speed of both capability advancement and consumer adoption is unprecedented
Competition is coming from all directions simultaneously. Incumbents are heavily invested and moving quickly. New startups are emerging. Foundation model companies are expanding rapidly
Infrastructure and tooling are evolving weekly, making it hard to pick the right stack

And as a result of these things:

Traditional "disruption playbooks" may not work - this isn't classic low-end disruption
Companies need to consider more radical self-disruption rather than gradual evolution
The error rate on predicting winners is extremely high, even among experts
M&A strategies are shifting where companies are acquiring AI-native leadership (e.g., Grammarly/Coda, Snowflake/Neva). Focus on acquiring both capabilities and adjacent use cases. More product-capability acquisitions vs. pure talent acquisitions

In the end, even successful companies with strong product-market fit are vulnerable of getting side swiped.Check out more from Unsolicited Feedback!

https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

Reforge Insight Analytics

https://reforge.com/insight-analytics

Product Strategy Courses

https://www.reforge.com/courses/product-strategy/details

https://www.reforge.com/courses/ai-strategy/details

ref:AI x Unsolicited Feedback Presents Strategies To Beat The AI S-Curve w/ Andrew Chen Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

AI Innovations & Growth Strategies with Andrew Chen | Unsolicited Feedback Live

This is a special live episode of Unsolicited Feedback, as part of Reforge's ref:AI conference. Join Fareed Mosavat as he welcomes Andrew Chen from Andreessen Horowitz for an engaging discussion on AI's impact on product growth and innovation. This episode covers the significance of the S curve in technology adoption, the challenges and opportunities arising from rapid AI advancements, and what it means for startups and established companies alike. Andrew shares insights on how to differentiate in a competitive landscape, the evolving role of AI in various industries, and strategic approaches for maintaining relevance. Whether you're a product manager, designer, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge to help you navigate the AI revolution.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this conversation at https://www.reforge.com/blog/strategies-to-beat-the-ai-s-curve

Check out more from Unsolicited Feedback! https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Welcome

04:13 Understanding the S Curve

08:35 The Novelty Phase of AI Products

12:26 Challenges and Strategies in AI Product Development

23:19 The Future of AI and Product Innovation

27:44 Platform Shifts and AI Paradigms

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

Real-Time Feedback: Apple's WWDC 2024 w/ Aaron White & Fareed Mosavat Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Real-Time Feedback: Apple's WWDC 2024 w/ Aaron White & Fareed Mosavat

In this Real-Time Feedback Episode, Fareed Mosavat and AI thought-leader Aaron White unpack Apple's strategic moves announced during WWDC, focusing on their approach to AI, their hardware ecosystem, and their long-term vision. We analyze Apple's iterative process, their integration of machine learning and AI, the implications of Apple intelligence, and the unmet potential of the Apple Vision Pro. We also revisited how Apple stacks up against its competitors, contrasting its strategies with those of Google and Microsoft. There's a lot to unpack. We hope you enjoy!

Show Notes:

Reforge has just launched a brand new AI product, the Reforge Extension, now in public beta. Ever wish you could get expert feedback from leaders like Fareed, Brian Balfour, Andrew Chen, and Elena Verna while working on your documents? Now you can!

Next week, we're excited for ref:AI, a full-day virtual conference delving into all things AI, featuring a special episode of Unsolicited Feedback with the legendary Andrew Chen. Secure your spot now as spaces are limited. Register here today.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Apple's Strategy and Market Position

05:23 Apple Watch and Health Ecosystem

12:58 Siri and Voice Interface Challenges

23:17 Apple's Vision for AI and Machine Learning

31:38 Apple's Strategic Integration of GPT and Siri

35:16 The Apple Ecosystem and User Experience

39:25 The Future of Apple Intelligence and Hardware

47:19 Apple's Approach to AI and Competitor Comparison

58:32 Advice for AI Startups in the Apple Ecosystem

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

The Future of AI in Marketing, Growth & Content: Season 2 Finale (Part 2) w/ Brian Balfour, Ravi Mehta, Joff Redfern, and Fareed Mosavat Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

The Future of AI in Marketing, Growth & Content: Season 2 Finale (Part 2) w/ Brian Balfour, Ravi Mehta, Joff Redfern, and Fareed Mosavat

In part two of the Unsolicited Feedback Season 2 Finale, Brian Balfour, Joff Redfern, Ravi Mehta, and Fareed Mosavat return to discuss the challenges associated with marketing in the face of declining search trends. They also explore the growing significance of content licensing deals and contemplate the future as AI models become commoditized and our interactions with them (and expectations of them) evolve.

Show Notes:

Fareed mentioned that Reforge has just launched a brand new AI product, the Reforge Extension, now in public beta. Ever wish you could get expert feedback from leaders like Fareed, Brian Balfour, Andrew Chen, and Elena Verna while working on your documents? Now you can!

He also mentioned our free AI festival, ref:AI, a full-day virtual conference delving into all things AI, featuring a special episode of Unsolicited Feedback with the legendary Andrew Chen. Secure your spot now as spaces are limited. Register here today.

And, last but not least, Rupa Chaturvedi & Polly Allen (renowned industry experts with expertise in Generative AI from Amazon’s Alexa, Google and Uber) are teaching Generative AI Products: How to get from Idea to MVP for the 3rd time starting on June 14. It's a 3-week course designed to get you started on your journey of leading AI initiatives and projects that involve Generative AI.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Season Finale Introduction (Part 2)

02:20 Decline of the S-Curve

07:10 SEO Unknowns

11:15 Modality Changes

13:05 Trouble Monetizing Traffic

14:15 Confusion Around Copyright Law

16:05 Licensing Content & Revenue Issues

17:30 LLMs In The Gray Area

19:08 Content As Supply for Generative Models

22:17 Hot Takes

22:40 AI Value Is Not In Foundational Models

24:42 AI Chatbots Are A Phase

27:56 What We Thought AI Would Be

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

Key Takeaways from H1 2024 (Part 1) w/ Brian Balfour, Ravi Mehta, Joff Redfern, and Fareed Mosavat Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Key Takeaways from H1 2024: Reflecting on Hardware, Unstructured Data, and the Future of Product Management

In the season 2 finale of 'Unsolicited Feedback,' co-hosts Brian Balfour, Ravi Mehta, and Joff Redfern join Fareed Mosavat to reflect on the most compelling topics of the season. They start with discussions on how trends diverge between hardware and software markets, and the distinctions between luxury and premium products. The episode takes a deep dive into AI's role in revolutionizing unstructured data and its far-reaching effects on product management. Touching on methodology changes, the hosts contemplate how AI might transform the software development life cycle and what it means for the future roles of product managers, designers, and engineers, giving some Unsolicited Feedback to our friend Lenny Rachitsky along the way.

Show Notes:

Fareed mentioned that Reforge has just launched a brand new AI product, the Reforge Extension, now in public beta. Ever wish you could get expert feedback from leaders like Fareed, Brian Balfour, Andrew Chen, and Elena Verna while working on your documents? Now you can!

He also mentioned our free AI festival, ref:AI, a full-day virtual conference delving into all things AI, featuring a special episode of Unsolicited Feedback with the legendary Andrew Chen. Secure your spot now as spaces are limited. Register here today.

And, last but not least, Rupa Chaturvedi & Polly Allen (renowned industry experts with expertise in Generative AI from Amazon’s Alexa, Google and Uber) are teaching Generative AI Products: How to get from Idea to MVP for the 3rd time starting on June 14. It's a 3-week course designed to get you started on your journey of leading AI initiatives and projects that involve Generative AI.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Season Finale Introduction

03:50 Luxury in Software and Physical Goods

18:16 AI's Impact on Product Management

30:29 AI vs Human Intuition in Strategy

38:11 The Role of AI in Communication and Empathy

41:19 Revolutionizing the Software Development Life Cycle

52:25 The Rise of Full-Stack Product Leaders

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

Microsoft’s Game-Changing Releases: Is Windows Poised to Dominate the AI Era? w/ Kurt Schrader May 30, 2024

Show notes

Microsoft’s Game-Changing Releases: Is Windows Poised to Dominate the AI Era? w/ Kurt Schrader

In this episode of 'Unsolicited Feedback,' host Fareed Mosavat and guest Kurt Schrader, CEO and founder of Shortcut, dive into Microsoft's latest AI announcements, including the Copilot+ PC initiative and Windows Recall. We explore the potential impact of these innovations on the consumer market and reflect on how Apple should respond at the upcoming WWDC. We also debate the strategic strengths and weaknesses of both tech giants in the evolving AI landscape.

Before we dive in, Fareed mentioned in the podcast that Reforge has just launched a brand new AI product, the Reforge Extension, now in public beta. Ever wish you could get expert feedback from leaders like Fareed, Brian Balfour, Andrew Chen, and Elena Verna while working on your documents? Now you can!

Install it for free today and elevate your work with Reforge experts by your side.

Join us for refAI, a full-day virtual conference delving into all things AI, featuring a special episode of Unsolicited Feedback with the legendary Andrew Chen. Secure your spot now as spaces are limited. Register here today.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Introduction

01:11 Microsoft's Big AI Announcements

04:46 Microsoft's AI-Powered Future

07:00 Copilot Plus PCs: A Full Stack Experience

17:59 Windows Recall: A Game Changer?

21:06 The Future of AI and Privacy

25:41 Speculations on Apple's Upcoming Surprises

27:34 Microsoft's Strategic Moves and Apple's Response

29:41 Apple's Potential AI and Voice Integration

31:30 The Developer Ecosystem: Microsoft vs. Apple

35:45 Hopes and Predictions for WWDC

Sonos' Redesign Debacle: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Product Upgrades w/ Kurt Schrader May 28, 2024

Show notes

Sonos' Redesign Debacle: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Product Upgrades w/ Kurt Schrader

Join host Fareed Mosavat on 'Unsolicited Feedback' as he delves into the latest Sonos app controversy with guest Kurt Schrader, CEO and founder of Shortcut, a platform that helps product and engineering teams unify to build collaboratively. This episode covers the major issues faced by Sonos power users, strategies for effective feature deprecation, the risks of big product redesigns, and how to manage user feedback and trust. Additionally, the episode touches on strategic pre-mortems, real-world scenarios from Slack and Shortcut, and insights into balancing innovation with user experience.

Before we dive in, Fareed mentioned in the podcast that Reforge has just launched a brand new AI product, the Reforge Extension, now in public beta. Ever wish you could get expert feedback from leaders like Fareed, Brian Balfour, Andrew Chen, and Elena Verna while working on your documents? Now you can!

Install it for free today and elevate your work with Reforge experts by your side.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons from this episode at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Introduction

01:44 Diving Into the Sonos App Update Controversy

05:16 The Challenges of Redesigning with Power Users in Mind

15:49 Learning from Slack's IRC Gateway Deprecation

18:26 Strategies for Managing Feature Deprecation and User Transition

24:31 Navigating the Challenges of Product Redesigns

26:18 Evaluating Redesign Feedback: Timing and Approach

28:50 The Pre-Mortem Strategy: Anticipating User Feedback

34:00 The Lock-In Factor: Navigating Customer Loyalty and Alternatives

37:33 Innovating in a Market Dominated by Incumbents

Evaluating AI Models, Unlocking Unstructured Data, and Achieving Reliability w/ Ben Kus May 23, 2024

Show notes

Evaluating AI Models, Unlocking Unstructured Data, and Achieving Reliability w/ Ben Kus

Today on "Unsolicited Feedback," Fareed Mosavat dives deep into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence with tech expert and Box CTO, Ben Kus. As AI continues to reshape industries, understanding its core mechanisms and potential applications has never been more critical. Ben sheds light on how AI can enhance productivity and decision-making within organizations while also sharing technical strategies he’s implemented to ensure reliability for Box’s enterprise customers.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Introduction

02:19 Rapid Fire Advice for AI Product and Technology Teams

05:25 Understanding and Navigating the World of AI Models

08:21 The Challenges of AI Change Management and Model Selection

14:29 Evaluating AI Quality and Performance in the Enterprise

25:23 Unstructured Data: The Next Frontier for AI

29:15 The Future of AI in Structuring Unstructured Data

43:55 Exploring the Potential of AI Agents and User Experience

Thank you for listening to Unsolicited Feedback!

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Box CTO's Approach to Enterprise AI Tools & Insights from Google and OpenAI's Latest Releases w/ Ben Kus May 21, 2024

Show notes

Box CTO's Approach to Enterprise AI Tools & Insights from Google and OpenAI's Latest Releases w/ Ben Kus

In the latest episode of "Unsolicited Feedback," Fareed Mosavat chats with Ben Kus, CTO of Box, to delve into the dynamic world of AI advancements and their implications for technology companies and users alike. This episode offers rich insights into how multimodal AI is transforming the tech landscape, driven by recent announcements from OpenAI and Google.

Check out a full summary of the takeaways and lessons at ➡️ https://www.unsolicitedfeedback.co/

00:00 Introduction

02:07 Ben Kus: From Technologist to CTO of Box

04:08 AI Week Highlights: OpenAI and Google's Diverse Approaches

06:21 The Real-Time Magic of AI Demonstrations

11:43 OpenAI's Strategy: A Broad Yet Focused Approach

16:30 Google's AI Integration Strategy

19:49 Exploring the Potential of AI in Everyday Tools

23:39 The Enterprise Side of AI: Tailoring Technology for Business

32:39 Navigating Enterprise Needs and AI Innovation: A Case Study with Box

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