62: Kieran Flanagan: The state of AI in 2024 in Tech

PRODUCTEA with Leah, Growth & Senior Leadership

Summary

In the second conversation with Kieran Flanagan, SVP Marketing at Hubspot we talk about how we see AI really being used in tech and not just being a flashy thing you use once. From Sales, to Marketing to Product. Where are we today and where is all of this going?

The conversation explores the role of AI in strategy, the potential for AI-driven social networks, the impact of AI on user interfaces and customer service, the importance of data in AI tools, and the need for iterative refinement when using AI.

Takeaways

• AI can assist in strategy, but it requires human knowledge and the ability to ask for specific output.
• AI can improve user interfaces and customer service, but there is a risk of increased isolation and loneliness.
• Marketers and business leaders need to have a deep understanding of their own business before leveraging AI.
• Challenges and limitations of AI include the need for large datasets and the resistance to adopting new software in sales.

Sound Bites

• "It’s not that AI cannot do strategy. You can't do strategy. You don't actually know how to talk to the AI and give it instructions in a way that would actually be helpful towards building a strategy."
• "AI can do a better job than nothing for people who are missing companionship, for people who feel like they are isolated, for people who just crave someone to be there at all times and talk to."
• "You give AI context, you teach it what good looks like before you use it productively."

Chapters

03:04 The Potential for AI-Driven Social Networks

05:59 AI and the Evolution of User Interfaces and Customer Service

08:52 The Importance of Data in AI Tools

14:17 The Limitations of AI in Understanding Context and Reasoning

31:12 Optimizing Workflows and Efficiency with AI

34:28 Enhancing Lead Generation and Conversion with AI

38:41 Improving the Customer Onboarding Experience with AI

44:26 Challenges and Limitations of AI in Sales

50:38 Using AI to Solve Real Problems and Create Value

Leah on Linkedin / Twitter / Youtube