What happens when you stop asking “How can we add AI?” and start asking “What are we actually building?”

In this episode of Intelligent Products, I sit down with Amin Rabinia, founder and CEO of Glissando AI, a systems thinker who blends philosophy, AI architecture, and startup experience into one sharp lens.

Together, we unpack one of the biggest questions facing product teams today:

Can SaaS truly support intelligence or do we need a whole new mindset?

This conversation isn’t just about features or tech. It’s about function, purpose, and the soul of the products we build.

What We Talked About

* Why AI isn't just a plugin or a chatbot and what happens when it is

* The deeper difference between SaaS and AI-native systems

* A framework for building intelligent workflows instead of gimmicky tools

* How startups vs. enterprises should approach AI adoption

* Why most AI projects fail and how to avoid the same trap

* The three stages of AI strategy: Innovation, Automation, Optimization

We also get personal about product philosophy, how Amin pivoted from doors to data, and the real cost of ignoring function in pursuit of flash.

What You’ll Learn (Insider Takeaways)

* How to define the function of your product before choosing features

* A simple mental model to spot when AI is adding value or just noise

* What product teams should stop doing immediately in the AI era

* The role of identity and business DNA in crafting an AI strategy that sticks

* Why bigger companies often move slower with AI and when that’s smart

We’re not just building products anymore.We’re building systems that learn, evolve, and influence decisions.

AI is powerful. But only when it's tied to a real purpose.Don’t build for hype. Build for outcomes.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.intelligentproducts.io

I had an insightful conversation with Michael Toland who is a Senior Product Management Consultant at Test Double, With years of product management experience including a decade at Verizon, he specializes in data product strategy, reference data platforms, and intelligent systems. He’s also a coach, speaker, and contributor to the Test Double blog, “Straight Data Talk” podcast and "Data Product Management in Action Podcast". Recognized on Columbus Business First’s “40 Under 40,” Michael is known for his practical, curiosity-driven approach to framing problems, applying constraints, and turning data into actionable products.

What We Talked About

This episode is packed with hard-won lessons, curious detours, and candid advice. Some of the topics we covered include:

* How Michael’s curiosity led him from frontline support to uncovering a $450M discrepancy, which transitioned his career into Data

* Why building intelligent products starts with asking the right questions not writing more code

* How to measure the true ROI of data products, even without perfect data

* The overlooked power of constraints in driving better engineering and product outcomes

* What happens when AI starts replacing tasks but not judgment

* Why frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix still hold up in the age of LLMs

What You’ll Learn (Insider Takeaways)

If you’re building with data or AI or trying to get started you’ll walk away with:

* A practical method to scope intelligent products: known knowns, unknowns, and assumption mapping

* A way to frame value beyond features: what changes, what costs less, what moves faster

* How to use prototypes and LLMs to validate fast, without overbuilding

* The case for not overthinking prompts and what personalization really means in AI tools

* Why your first step is clarity, not code

Whether you’re a product manager, data professional, or just curious about how real-world systems evolve into intelligent tools, there’s something here for you.

🎥 Watch the full episode now

📩 Reply or comment, I’d love to hear what resonates

Thanks for being here. Let’s build intelligent products together.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.intelligentproducts.io

Host: Rode Esha

Length: ~3 minutes

Type: Intro / Origin Story

What’s Inside:

In this short kickoff episode, Rode Esha shares the origin story behind Intelligent Product a podcast created from a single question:

What is the real value of data in a world powered by AI?

This episode unpacks:

* Why Rode started the podcast

* What “intelligent products” really are beyond dashboards and hype

* What to expect from future episodes (real conversations, not theory)

* Who this is for: product leaders, builders, data folks, AI thinkers, and curious users

If you’re interested in what the future of intelligent products is, this space is for you.

Key Quote:

“This podcast isn’t about being the expert. It’s about being the curious one learning in public, and creating a space where we can all grow together.”

Ready to go deeper?

Visit intelligentproducts.io to learn how to lead, build, and use intelligent products and stay connected with the movement.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.intelligentproducts.io