AI-powered solutions are quickly becoming integrated into our everyday lives. 

Are you seizing the opportunity that presents?

In this Insights Unlocked episode, UserTesting’s CEO Andy MacMillan talks with Chris Messina, co-founder of the Ride Home AI Fund. They discuss AI’s rapid integration into our lives; ways in which AI will revolutionize work; the key elements of a successful product today; as well as Chris’s investment strategy for AI startups. 

Chris is a tech industry veteran and a well-known influencer in social media. He invented the hashtag’s use on Twitter. And he’s also the #1 hunter on the Product Hunt website, having helped more than 3,800 products get featured on the site.

AI’s role in startups and businesses over the next 5-7 years

When it comes to AI, Chris believes we will be shocked not by the applications that are being integrated with generative AI or some flavor of a machine learning algorithm, but by those that aren’t.

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ChatGPT has become a member of the family, says Chris. “When it comes to AI being woven into our lives, if I look at kids in my household who are using these generative products, [it’s become normal] … It's like having running water in the household.”

“So once you start there, then you start to think about work being done with generative AI as a companion,” Chris said. “The level of productivity is going to explode. The ways in which people can coordinate and collaborate will also accelerate.”

A Goldman Sachs Research report estimates a baseline case in which the widespread adoption of AI could lift global GDP by nearly $7 trillion over the next 10 years. 

Chris draws a parallel between the early days of social media and the current state of AI.

“Back in 2006/2007, working on social products, there was a great deal of skepticism that people would be using these platforms on a regular basis. And now, of course, they're kind of woven into the fabric of society for better or worse,” he said. “We'll probably see similar types of things in the weaving of artificial intelligence and generative AI into common experiences. But in a way that's both subtle, profound and will become a lot more commonplace faster than I think a lot of people think.”

Chris acknowledges that jobs will be disrupted, and the way many of us work will change. “That's been true ever since the Internet came around,” he said. “And we're just sort of living through the second or third wave.”

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But he thinks AI solutions will create many opportunities, too. An example could be how software is developed and delivered that becomes more personalized specifically to the person using it and their experience level. 

“From a product design perspective, think about all those moments where there's some kind of friction and what generative AI or artificial intelligence can do is step in like sandpaper right ahead of the person to sand off those rough edges.”

For some people that may be a surgical fix using a scalpel, and for others it may be a more general need for a butter knife.

Product Hunt: what makes for a good product in today’s digital world?

Chris, who has been following Product Hunt since its inception, described it as the closest thing to witnessing the scientific method in action. He emphasized that the platform provides a unique opportunity to observe how people quickly solve problems using technology and then articulate those solutions through the 40-80 new products being launched daily on the site.

According to Chris, a successful launch on Product Hunt today requires clear communication of the product's purpose and what makes it unique. Many people who encounter a problem may forget the need to explain it to those unfamiliar with the context.

"What is the product, and what is it trying to do?" Messina asked. "There are many people who end up being so close to a problem that they forget they have to explain it to a bunch of people who have no idea what they're talking about."

Messina also emphasized the importance of timing when launching a product. He cited the example of products that emerged during the economic downturn, offering solutions to founders concerned about extending their runway. These products gained traction by providing economic answers to pressing questions.

Moreover, Messina observed a trend of teams quickly organizing and developing products in response to real-time events. He highlighted the ability of these teams to ride the wave of emerging trends and launch products that resonate with the evolving landscape.

“You learn a lot just by seeing how people are thinking about problems and what problems they are willing and able to tackle as new technology becomes more available,” Chris said. “For example, the Vision Pro has just launched and in the last week there’s 10-15 apps for the Vision Pro that are now being featured on Product Hunt.” 

The AI Ride Home Fund: Chris Messina's vision for the future of AI

Chris's insights into Product Hunt and the broader landscape of product development provide valuable perspectives for entrepreneurs and product enthusiasts alike. That experience also serves as the foundation for his AI Ride Home Fund.

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“The idea essentially is that the fund is investing in founders who have some domain expertise in some place, usually that means that they understand the language, the vernacular, the problems that a vertical is experiencing. And they team up with some sort of ML or engineer who can bring generative AI or AI solutions into that space,” Chris said. “So it's the pairing of the two. It's the knowledge and expertise that then can be used to actually build real solutions.”

Episode links: 

• Chris on LinkedIn
• Andy on LinkedIn
• Chris's website
• Ride Home AI Fund
• Ryan Hoover (Founder of Product Hunt)
• Brian McCullough (Host of Techmeme Ride Home podcast)
• Chris Messina on Product Hunt