We're making the same mistake with AI that game developers made a decade ago with open world design - trying to do everything instead of doing one thing exceptionally well.

Drawing from real experience building customer service automation, this episode explores why "conversational AI" often fails spectacularly (looking at you, Taco Bell's 18,000 cups of water), while focused, form-like AI systems succeed.

The solution? Treat AI applications like well-designed HTML forms with clear validation, defined success criteria, and linear paths to completion. Your users want solutions, not conversations.

Key takeaways:

• Why conversational AI invites scope creep and failure
• The difference between "open world" and "linear" AI design
• Real examples of what works (and what doesn't) in drive-thru automation
• How to build AI that matches interaction model to mission

Perfect for product managers, developers, and anyone building AI-powered applications.