Working notes from product people

Ask the people who’ve done it.

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01 — TopicsFourteen drawers, sorted.

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Open drawer · 05

Building AI products

298 notes · 90 people · 2014–2026
SVPG · Marty CaganSep 25, 2026

Experts Lead Experts

Sep 25, 2026 · 3 min

Marty Cagan argues that the current trend of cutting managers in favor of pure individual-contributor builders is a temporary phase rather than the future. He restates the principle that experts lead experts: effective…

The Looking Glass · Julie Zhuo♥ 40

What will we use our minds for?

Oct 7, 2026
Subscriber post — summary only

The essay opens with an anecdote about a journalist's first impressions of a notable figure, using it as a jumping-off point to ask what humans should use their minds for as AI takes on more cognitive work. It frames…

@hnshah · Hiten Shah on X♥ 10
If you use AI for competitor research, steal this rule. Every claim gets a date. Last week Claude answered a simple question about Linear’s competitors using an old source as if it were recent. It also stated a guess as fact. The skill forced the answer to show the dates,
Lenny’s Podcast121 min

The grief, loneliness, and burnout sweeping through the tech industry right now

Molly Graham · Sep 27, 2026
Key learnings
  • Change is scary and hard, but leaning into it and letting go of old responsibilities is still the best way to grow, even as the…
  • Name the emotions change brings, including grief for lost craft; leaders who normalize these feelings help people feel less alone…
  • Treat AI like a lazy junior intern: give it context, review its output, and never ship its work unchecked, since accountability…
The Looking Glass · Julie Zhuo♥ 40

What will make personal AI go big?

Sep 24, 2026
Subscriber post — summary only

Julie Zhuo reflects on Muse, a consumer AI agent she believes could actually change people's everyday habits. The essay, which is paywalled, argues that a few specific design choices explain why personal AI might…

@hnshah · Hiten Shah on X♥ 9
The first thing I want from AI doing product marketing is the ability to say "I don’t know." If it can’t verify a competitor change, that uncertainty belongs in the answer. If a recommendation needs evidence it doesn’t have, the system should stop there. Friday at 10 AM PT I’m

02 — FrameworksModels, annotated.

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03 — PeopleWho wrote the notes.

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04 — QuestionsAnswered from the notes.

All 32 questions →

Where notes come from

NewsletterLenny’s Newsletter106 free posts, with a longer excerpt.
Subscriber postsSummary only229 paid posts: our summary, at most two short quotes, and a link.
PodcastLenny’s Podcast322 episodes, each with 5–8 key learnings and timestamps.
EssaysSVPG · The Beautiful Mess499 essays from Marty Cagan and John Cutler.
Substack & blogsShreyas · Julie · Jason · Hiten577 essays and posts from independent writers.
XPosts on product58 posts, filtered for product relevance.