Stephen McBride's Portfolio

“AI-ify” Your Products – And “The AI Golden Rule” You’re a CPO, and the board’s pushing hard to “AI-ify” your product by next quarter, googly-eyed by competitors “AI-powered” buzz. You roll out an AI recommendation engine, expecting a win, but users hate it—irrelevant suggestions, no control, and a 20% engagement drop in a week. Why? Chasing AI hype over user needs, a mistake that sinks 80% of AI projects (McKinsey, Gartner). Instead of racing to keep up, you can be a smarter leader, building AI that users trust and love. This blueprint shows you how, starting with a principle that delivers ROI without the fallout. A Practical Guide for Product Leaders With 32% of consumers switching brands after one poor experience (PwC, 2022), human-centered AI is critical. This 5-part series introduces a playbook built on a core principle that ensures your AI delivers ROI by prioritizing users. The AI Golden Rule: “AI Must Empower Human Agency” The cornerstone of human-centered AI is simple but powe...

The Greased Pig Theory of Innovation Lessons in Innovation from Mud, Chaos, and Desperation By Stephen McBride We were just sitting down for the rodeo at the Alameda County Fairgrounds when the announcer's booming voice cut through the dusty air: “All 12- and 13-year-old boys, come on down for the Greased Pig Race!” Since I had just turned 12, my dad’s eyes lit up. He clenched his fist in encouragement. My stomach churned with nerves, but I didn’t back down. I nervously stepped into the pen with over 50 other kids; each of us was handed an oversized T-shirt. Cowboys unleashed a firehose, drenching the dirt and turning it into a slick, sloppy, muddy rink. Then, with a loud clang, they released the beast—a massive pig, head-to-hoof coated in thick, slippery grease, squealing like a banshee. As soon as the gate opened, chaos erupted. Kids lunged, slipped, and face-planted in the mud. The fastest and strongest reached the pig first, only to slide off its impossibly slick hide, landing ...