Hello, World
Building in the age of AI
There’s a certain irony in a technology executive writing “Hello, World” as a first post. It’s been 25 years since I wrote that phrase in C++, nervous and excited, having no idea where it would lead.
It led here: to a career building products and leading engineering teams, most recently as a CPTO-level executive where I sit at the intersection of product, technology, and business strategy. And now, to this newsletter.
Why I’m writing
First, I need to think out loud. The best ideas I’ve ever had didn’t come from reading or meetings—they came from writing. There’s something about putting thoughts into words that forces clarity. Writing is how I figure out what I actually believe versus what I’m just repeating.
Second, we’re living through a transformation. The rise of AI isn’t just changing what we build—it’s changing how we build, how we lead teams, and what “product” even means. I’ve spent the past two years going deep on AI-first product development, and I want to share what I’m learning while it’s still fresh. Some of it will be wrong. That’s fine. Working in public means correcting in public too.
Third, I want to connect with others navigating the same questions. How do you lead a team when AI can do half of what junior engineers used to do? How do you set product strategy when the underlying technology shifts quarterly? How do you stay relevant—and help your teams stay relevant—in a world that’s changing this fast?
I don’t have all the answers. But I have some hard-won lessons, a few frameworks that have served me well, and a genuine curiosity about what comes next.
What to expect
I’ll be writing weekly about:
AI-first product development — Not the hype. The practical reality of building products in the age of LLMs.
Technology leadership — Managing teams, making decisions, navigating organizations.
The craft of building — Systems thinking, technical strategy, and the messy work of shipping.
My goal is to write things I wish I could have read five years ago. Essays that are useful, concrete, and honest about the tradeoffs.
Who this is for
If you’re a product manager, engineer, designer, or technology leader trying to figure out how AI changes your work—this is for you.
If you’re an executive thinking about how to transform your organization—this is for you.
If you’re someone who loves building things and wants to get better at it—this is for you.
Really, I’m writing this for myself. But if you’re someone who thinks about these problems too, I’d love to have you along.
Let’s figure this out together.
— Chris