One day, out of nowhere, you’re blindfolded and taken into a van. A couple of hours later, you are dropped off in the middle of the forest.
Now what? In a situation like this, two things are important:
1. You have to know where you are.
2. You have to know where you want to go.
Sorry for the somewhat dramatic opening, but it illustrates a common situation, particularly in product development and AI assistants.
AI assistants exist to help, but effective assistance hinges on two key insights: understanding where a person is and where they aim to go.
It’s not easy to understand a person current postion, even for them it’s not an easy question; you need to really think about this.
For instance, if you're looking to enhance a skill, assessing your current level is vital. A generic label like 'senior' is insufficient. What's required is a candid, in-depth conversation—and this takes time.
The other question is even harder: Where do you want to go?
This depends on your genuine desire, which then must be defined in a very specific manner. A vague direction like "let's go south" won't help you; clarity is key.
These questions influence my approach to designing more effective products. They foster an environment that assists individuals in establishing their starting point (step 1) and in mapping out their destination (step 2).