How We Made That App

AutoCAD Evolution: From 2D to AI with Autodesk’s Marcus O’Brien

In this episode, we delve into a fascinating conversation with Marcus O'Brien, VP of Product, AutoCAD, at Autodesk, focusing on the evolution of AutoCAD. Marcus takes us on a journey, discussing how AutoCAD has evolved since the 1980s, establishing itself as a go-to tool for architects, engineers, and designers worldwide. From creating 2D and 3D objects to evolving into an extensible platform, Marcus shares insightful details about the product and its wide range of applications.We also have the opportunity to hear Marcus's extraordinary personal journey from Ireland to America, and his transition into product management. Marcus enlightens us on the evolution of product management, discussing the industry's macro shifts that have influenced products and the strategies to enter product management today. Additionally, he shares his thoughts on what makes a great product manager, how AI and ML are utilized in product management and his experience in building models for Autodesk's products.We conclude the episode by exploring the use of LLMs in 3D modeling and design, along with the capabilities of AutoCAD products in generative design. Marcus offers insights into onboarding customers and highlights the available tools for individuals interested in learning 3D modeling and design. Tune in to this insightful episode to learn from an industry expert and explore the world of AutoCAD and product management.Key Quotes: I think going through the technical route and then getting into product management later is a really strong foundation in being able to understand some technical engineering concepts, and then you can kind of scale yourself, learn a bit about strategy but be rooted in the technical side, I think is one of the things that makes you really successful but I think when I look at founders, if I look at all the VC investment that's happening at the moment. It's for a more technical founder base. So I think the wild west of, you can just go to a VC and you've got a business plan and you can talk the talk.I think those days might be over now, unless your company name ends in AI. But there tends to be more of a technical bias to these positions now, so I think anyone coming in with a technical background and then switching to PM, it's a good route.When I look at AutoCAD's journey, the first 20 years was about building automations on desktop software. Maybe, after 20 years for the next 10 years was about acquiring vertical products or building vertical products and bringing them to market to target specific niches. From 2010, maybe to 2018 was more about multi-platform about creating AutoCAD that is truly everywhere where it's desktop, web, mobile. We've got AutoCAD design automation API in the cloud, so that if you want to run  automations, if you don't want to do use your GPU, if you want to do things online with servers, we've developed this full third party ecosystem of developers who develop capabilities on top of AutoCAD. I think that was the kind of push and certainly this last number of years for PMs, it's been about machine learning and AI.I think you need to learn it on the job, if I'm honest, maybe I'm a bit old school like that. I would push back on the ego and I actually think the most successful product managers are humble. And I think that is one of the qualities you look for. You want table stakes. You need the smartest person, you know, super smart people. My personal preference is a strong bias for action. So somebody who doesn't have to have the idea, but as the person who wants to get traction and make progress with the idea, incredible communication skills, both written and verbal, you have to be one of those people who just enjoys it. I think if your company is solely reliant on LLMs to check your AI ML capabilities, you're probably missing a beat.I think the companies that are looking at more broadly beyond LLMs, maybe have a little bit more strategic advantage and more value to offer to customers ultimately.I think that the way that I raise my kids needs to be different now, because I need them to be comfortable with working with AIs.I think that that's going to be their childhood. They're going to grow up with AIs. I think we have a role to play in teaching our kids how to  get the best from AI in the way that we had to learn how to use iPads. They're going to have to learn how to work with AIsTimestamps(1:45) - The journey of AutoCAD(7:56) - Marcus’ journey from Ireland to America (12:05) - Taking the technical route to product management (19:20) - Bringing GenAI and product management together(25:26) - LLMs in 3D Modeling and Design (29:56) - Goal Setting and Adapting in Product Management(37:15) - Quick hitsLinksConnect with MarcusCheck out the AutoCAD podcastCheck out the Figuring Things Out podcastConnect with MadhukarVisit SingleStore

The Future of Parking with EasyPark

In this riveting podcast episode, host Madhukar Kumar engages in a deep and enlightening conversation with Scott Booker, the Chief Customer Officer at EasyPark. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the fascinating story behind EasyPark, from its inception and the intricate process of its creation to the breadth of its operational territories and its exciting plans for future expansion.Scott Booker generously shares his insights into the inner workings of EasyPark, shedding light on the innovative ways they harness data to fine-tune their services. He also elucidates how cutting-edge AI and mobile technology seamlessly integrate into their approach, paving the way for an exciting future in urban mobility.Scott also offers thought-provoking commentary on the evolution of parking management, highlighting the potential transformative impact of autonomous vehicles on parking requirements. He paints a vivid picture of the pivotal role that EasyPark envisions playing in the future of city planning, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the ever-evolving urban landscapeKey Quotes: “Making it easy was a large part of what we're trying to do. You see it in our reviews, you see it in the feedback we get through customer care,  and so forth. We make it so much easier for people to do what they need to do in terms of parking. So, we sort of gravitated in that direction.”“What we're trying to do is reduce that flow and congestion that happens on a regular basis in cities so that they can focus on using their investment dollars and so forth to make their cities more livable, more usable for the citizens. And so, part of that is really understanding, using that data, what's happening on an hourly basis, on a daily basis, and a weekly basis.”“I have responsibilities for marketing, product, customer care, and analytics So, [in] all of my areas, we'll push and lead in helping [cities] use data to make decisions. I think it's super important in this space. So if I'm on the product side, for instance, I need to understand what the data is telling me about how the app's being used, how many errors are being thrown, what's the A-B test environment look like when we're running multiple tests, because we're always in a constant, kind of mode to improve the conversion of that app. To continue to simplify. There shouldn't be any roadblocks or hindrances, to make it easy to park.”Time Stamps(02:45) - Introduction to EasyPark(03:18) - The Functionality and Benefits of EasyPark(06:06) -  Real-Time Data and Analytics in EasyPark(21:50) -  The Role of AI in EasyPark(28:39)-  Quick HitsLinksConnect with ScottCheck out EasyParkConnect with MadhukarVisit SingleStore

Developing Your Second Brain: How Quivr is Changing Data Storage

Who wouldn't desire a second brain? Envision a transformative tool that serves as the custodian of your thoughts and files, liberating your mind for unbridled creativity. Today, we embark on a captivating exploration with Stan Girard, the visionary mind behind Quivr and the head of Gen AI at Theodo.Quivr, a groundbreaking generative AI application, is engineered to be your unrivaled memory repository, where no idea or data is ever misplaced. But that's just the beginning. Stan's vision for Quivr extends far beyond a mere storage solution; it's an interactive, ChatGPT-powered file system that will revolutionize the way you interact with your stored knowledge.Going beyond Quivr, Stan shares profound insights into the future of data storage and the limitless potential of generative AI applications. He discusses how autonomous agents are poised to reshape the landscape of publishing and marketing. Stan's infectious enthusiasm for AI, coupled with his visionary outlook, will leave you with much food for thought.Key Quotes:“I think that keeping it open source is very important when you are storing information when you're the second brain of people. Keeping your product open source allows people to look into it or at least know that they can look into it. And that gives confidence to people, especially when you store the information. They want to know how they want to know what to do with it. They want to know if you use it. Open AI when they closed source GPT-4, created a distrust in the generative AI world where people don't know what to do with the information. So the goal is to keep it open source as much as I want and I can.”“I really want it to be your second brain and allow you to forget things. So it's not only data, it's also things to do. So you can be more creative when you are using your first brain.”“There needs to be an ethical part of it where maybe keep the recommendation system open source so people can look into it, see if we are not pushing more kinds of information, a specific way or a specific view and this is going to be interesting too in the future.”“If you want to create a product, use either long chain or LAMA Index for the obstruction of complexity with the interaction to vector stores. For creating agents or for chatting with open AI and topics. So they create an abstraction layer and for example, if I recall correctly, in LAMA index, you can even use long chain LLMs models.”Timestamps:(:35) - Intro(6:40) - Envisioning a new file system(13:24) - Quivr and Open-Source Frameworks Potential(25:39) - Data Stores and Gen AI ApplicationsLinksConnect with StanCheck out QuivrVisit TheodoConnect with MadhukarVisit SingleStore

Welcome to How We Made That App!

Welcome to “How We Made That App”, where we explore the crazy, wild, and sometimes downright bizarre stories behind the creation of some of the world's most popular apps.I'm your host, the always charming and devastatingly handsome Madhukar Kumar. After starting my career as  a developer and then as a product manager, I am now the Chief Marketing Officer at SingleStore. And I'm here to take you on a journey through the data, challenges and obstacles that app developers face on the road to creating their masterpieces.On each episode, we'll dive deep into the origins of a different app and find out what went into making it the success it is today. We'll explore the highs and lows of development, the technical challenges that had to be overcome, and the personalities and egos that clashed along the way.With our signature blend of irreverent humor, snarky commentary and razor-sharp wit, we'll keep you entertained and informed as we explore the cutting edge of app development.So grab your favorite coding language, crank up the volume, and join us for “How We Made That App”Brought to you by the top app-building platform wizards at SingleStore.