Stages of Disruption: Adaptation, Evolution, or Revolution? Plus Email AI app Shortwave

Hallway Chat

Two former founders, now VCs, play with AI products and see where that leads...

Fraser and Nabeel discuss the differences between horizontal disruption and vertical market disruption and the patterns of the phases of this disruption in the mobile age. From Adaptation, to Evolution, and eventually Revolution. Next, they dive into AI email app Shortwave AI. This leads to a conversation around what AI models are optimizing for, and how speed and polish can sometimes be part of the baseline usability of a product.

They also explore the default Agent workflows we should be trying as we figure out the right knowledge worker AI copilot. Using the analogy of the history of web development and AI no code, from webflow to squarespace, what those design approaches might tell us about how AI workflow tools will develop.

Finally, we discuss the potential value of talking to VCs when you're not raising, and the perils of taking even good generalized advice all the time.

* Shortwave email
* Avi Goldfarb and his book Prediction Machines
* Avi also spoke with Patrick O'Shaughnessy
* Yahoo Pipes wikipedia page, or see Retool's amazing history of Pipes

* TLdraw's Makereal

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:32) - "AI Week" at Startups
• (02:43) - Is it Adaption, Evolution, or Revolution
• (05:23) - Shortwave AI - Adapting email to AI
• (08:07) - Familiar but personalized
• (11:09) - Speed is a feature too
• (15:51) - Taking users on a behavior change journey
• (18:37) - What are Agent workflows we should default to
• (26:04) - TLdraw & Notion, over Pipes, as the core UX for AI
• (29:43) - TLDraw as metaphor for "show me the output" application building
• (31:13) - History of Web Development as analogy for AI no code
• (33:37) - Is it worth talking to VCs when you aren't raising
• (43:24) - Building relationships, Bizdev vs Sales