What I've Read This Week | Issue #8
Google DeepMind, fluff PM content everywhere (Op-ed) and this week's reading list.
Interesting Science Corner:
I learned via All-In podcast about AlphaFold – biological prediction engine. Apparently this is a new model which builds upon predecessor's already impressive capability to forecast protein structures by now extending its predictions to encompass almost all biological molecules, including proteins, DNA, RNA, and ligands.
Quick Opinion: Fluff PM Content Everywhere
When I open LinkedIn, my feed is predominantly filled with product management content. While I do appreciate the insights from sources like Aakash Gupta (OG), Lenny’s Podcast, and Colin's TopTech Newsletter—because they really get straight to the point, offering factual, practical frameworks, and actionable insights that are immediately applicable in real-world settings.
However, not other podcasters or content creators are doing that in my opinion – I find that not all content holds up to this standard. Specifically, many discussions around product sense, product thinking, and product management seem to lack substance. I refer to this as "fluff" because it doesn't provide the 'lean, meaty' content that truly adds value. For instance, today I watched an interview with a CPO of a well-known company. While he did share some valuable insights, I found that I had to actively sift through the content to extract the useful information. Thanks to my 15 years of experience in product and design, spanning startups to public companies, I am able to filter the essence from what often feels like fluff – as a startup dude, I just want to cut through the chase and get right the point.
So what is the point of this post? Why did I write it? Simple – I felt I should share this with my readers and listeners and see if they resonate with same feelings. At the end of the day, we are all striving to achieve our goals. The only thing is that when you are building a brad, have wield significant influence or have a wide reach, it’s curial to ensure you are offering some good value to those who listen or read your content.
Reading list:
Tesla’s profitable Supercharger network is in limbo after Musk axed the entire team (TechCrunch)
Apple apologized Thursday for a new iPad Pro commercial (AdAge)
OpenAI could debut a multimodal AI digital assistant soon (TheVerge)
OpenAI plans to announce Google search competitor on Monday (Reuters)
Deal-Making Involving VC-Backed Startups Picks Up Slightly (Crunchbase)
OpenAI Competitor Mistral AI Raising At $6B Valuation (Crunchbase)