[Weekly Retro] Is AI is the best option?
#262 - Aug.2025
Hi there!
Here's a quick idea before you head-off for the weekend:
Every week, I see AI solutions for problems that could be solved in a much simpler way.
Let's face it: today, not all problems need AI.
In fact, this pattern isn't new. We have seen this happening with other technologies in the past. When teams force-fit any technology without asking if it's the right tool, projects usually fail.
It's not surprising that many people believe that AI is a hype.
Before defaulting to AI, stop for a moment to think if this is the best technology to solve your problem.
Using Marty Cagan's lens of the main risks of any product, here are 4 key questions to ask before deciding if AI is the best option:
- Value: Does AI solve a problem users actually care about and create value responsibly?
- Feasibility: Do we have the data, skills, and technology needed to build AI that performs reliably and fairly?
- Usability: Can users effectively interact with AI in a transparent way while keeping agency?
- Viability: Does this AI solution work for our business model and create sustainable, responsible value?
Sometimes the smartest AI product decision is deciding when AI is not the best option.
📡 Tech radar
- OpenAI GPT-5 launch: OpenAI launched GPT-5, the latest and most advanced large language model.
- NVIDIA hits $4 trillion: NVIDIA exceeded $4 trillion in market valuation, surpassing Microsoft and Apple to become the world’s most valuable company.
- AI Browser Assistants: The rise of AI-powered browser assistants is clear. I'm currently testing Comet with interesting insights (more to come in future posts).
- AR/VR for Storytelling: Product teams can adopt AR/VR features to boost storytelling, product demos, and educational content.
👨🏻💻 Interesting links
Ben
Ethan Mollick
Alexey Tretina
🖋️ Quote of the week
“Art serves as mediator between the imagination of the child and the adult's sense of reality.” – Felix Deutsch
