This Moment We're In

In this episode of This Moment We’re In, Cindy Chastain talks with design and innovation executive Greg Petroff about what happens when AI stops functioning merely as a productivity tool and starts reshaping how teams think.Drawing from his work with product organizations navigating AI adoption in real time, Greg shares two contrasting stories: one where AI accelerates an existing product development process, and another where AI begins transforming how teams explore ideas, collaborate, and make decisions together.The conversation explores:The shift from “thinking to make” toward “making to think”Why discernment still matters in an AI-driven workflowThe collapsing boundaries between design, product, and engineeringAI as a medium for strategic explorationHow leadership, roles, and product development models may evolve as these tools matureRather than focusing on hype or predictions, this episode examines the deeper organizational implications emerging underneath the tooling itself — and why changes in thinking may ultimately reshape the structures around them.Chapters00:00 Introducing the episode01:34 Welcome03:08 Act I - The Bolt on Moment04:48 Assessing Design Team Maturity06:16 Navigating AI Adoption in Design08:14 The Role of Product Managers in Design16:04 Act II - Improvising toward new value20:06 The Evolution of Design Processes with AI28:54 Act III - AI as Velocity Driver vs. Thinking Tool32:25 Making to Think vs. Thinking to Make35:51 Act IV - Putting it Into Practice50:32 Act V - Closing Takeaways57:03 ReflectionAbout Greg PetroffFor over 25 years, Greg been at the forefront of design innovation, crafting user-centric solutions that transform how enterprises and organizations operate across diverse industries. My passion lies in creating products and services that not only enhance security and efficiency but also delight users with their intuitiveness and creativity.As a leader in user experience (UX) and context-first design, he’s had the privilege of shaping digital experiences at some of the world's most innovative companies, including SAP, GE Digital, Google, ServiceNow, Compass, and Cisco. In each role, he’s led design teams that pushed the boundaries of what's possible in digital interactions, always with a focus on solving real-world problems.His approach combines deep user research with creative direction to deliver solutions that truly resonate with end-users. I believe that great design goes beyond aesthetics—it's about understanding context, anticipating needs, and creating seamless experiences that feel natural and effortless.Beyond his corporate roles, he is deeply committed to advancing the field of design. As a founding board member of the Interaction Design Association and chair of the Interaction09 Conference, I've worked to foster community and share knowledge within our industry. He’s also a frequent public speaker, sharing insights on the transformative power of design in organizational strategy and culture.LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpetroff/AI consultancy: https://unfinishe.com/Substack: https://gregpetroff.substack.com/#ArtificialIntelligence #ProductDevelopment #DesignLeadership #Innovation #ProductManagement #AI

Cindy talks with Christian Crumlish, product leader and author Product Management for UX People, about his journey building a product management assistant called Piper Morgan.What began as a practical experiment quickly exposed something deeper: how systems drift without structure, and why Agentic AI doesn’t work without trust, governance, and human discernment.At its core, this is a story about what it takes to build with AI—without losing the human.What was revealedWhat it actually means to create an agent that behaves more like a colleague than a toolWhat an agent learning process looks like in practice—not theoryWhy you can’t shortcut your way to enterprise-ready softwareHow building trust with an agent mirrors how we build trust with peopleWhy agentic workflows push humans up the stack—into strategy, decision-making, and accountabilityWhy existing processes have to be redesigned, not just automatedChaptersAct I – The life change and genesis of an idea1:44 Landing a new role after the 18F layoffs7:29 The idea: an agent as a teammate, not atool Act II — TheFirst Build14:28 Buildingthe initial prototype15:40 Earlysignals—and early misconceptions16:22 When the system gets it wrong Act III – Coding mania and eventual drift20:24 Starting over22:10 Leaving product discipline behind23:28 When speed creates drift Act IV — The Big Reset 25:55 Governance steps in28:08 Re-architecting the system31:25 Teaching the agent how to work with its human33:36 Building trust between human and machine39:36 What remains when everything accelerates43:39 The role of the “good bottleneck” Act V — From Experiment to Viable System44:24 What organizations can learn from this experiment47:28 Why workflows must be redesigned—not just automated48:21  Why experimentation has to be structured, not ad hoc50:07 How this changes the role of a product leader       About the guest:Christian Crumlish is Director of Product at Kind and was Director of the Product Chapter at the late, lamented 18F--the former US Government digital consultancy. He brings over two decades of experience in UX design, product management, and information architecture to the challenge of building ethical AI systems.At Kind, Christian defines the product practices, leads a project for VA.gov, improving the online experience for veterans seeking reviews of their disability benefits,  and tracking disability benefits reviews, and explores the possibilities of AI enhanced product management practices.At 18F, Christian worked on federal digital services including the launch of ClimateCorps.gov and passport modernization efforts for Consular Affairs at the State Department, learning how to navigate complex stakeholder interests while keeping user needs central. Follow the ongoing progress of Piper Morgan on MediumContribute to the build or testing of Piper MorganRead Christian's Book: Product Management for UX PeopleView his profile on LinkedIn

In the first episode of This Moment We’re In, host Cindy Chastain sits down with Brandt Flomer to explore a growing—but often overlooked—risk of AI adoption: the erosion of judgment, taste, and learning itself.Drawing from Brandt’s widely read essay “Craft Is Your Only Moat in the Age of AI,” the conversation examines why many organizations are shipping faster but thinking less—and how unchecked AI workflows can quietly bypass the feedback loops that help people develop good judgment. Together, Cindy and Brandt unpack why speed without discernment isn’t productivity, but capability decay at scale.The episode introduces a practical leadership framework—Compass × Flywheel = Impact—to help teams harness AI’s speed and scale without losing the craft that makes work meaningful, differentiated, and valuable. This is a conversation for leaders navigating AI-driven change who want results without sacrificing standards, learning, or humanity.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy 95% of generative AI pilots fail to show measurable ROI, and what most leaders are missingHow AI can unintentionally short-circuit learning, apprenticeship, and judgmentWhat “craft” really means—and why it applies far beyond design or creative fieldsHow work slop creeps into organizations and quietly erodes productivityWhy leaders must slow down decision-making even as execution speeds upChapters00:00 Navigating AI-Driven Change01:22 The Importance of Craft in AI07:30 Defining Craft and Its Relevance12:27 A Real-World Example of AI Integration16:22 Cognitive Offloading and Its Implications19:55 Capability Decay at Scale23:37 Creating Healthy Friction in Workflows25:25 Navigating Leadership Challenges26:58 The Role of AI in Creative Processes30:07 Maintaining Craft in a Fast-Paced Environment30:07 Framework for Impact: Compass and Flywheel38:53 Creating Conditions for Healthy Experimentation44:48 The Unique Human Contribution in the Age of AI46:35 The Stakes of New Tools47:24 Craft and Judgment in AI IntegrationLinks to Brandt's articlesCraft is Your Only Moat in the Age of AI Three Ways to Ensure AI Multiplies Craft (Instead of Eroding It)