Linear's AI feature could automate product decisions, impacting roles
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence continues to reshape the technology landscape, challenging established norms and redefining traditional roles. A prime example is Linear’s recently unveiled “Product Intelligence” feature, an AI-driven tool designed to assess new work, triage tasks, and suggest appropriate teams for their completion. This innovation hints at a future where significant portions of product decision-making could be automated, potentially streamlining operations but also prompting a reevaluation of established product management functions.
This launch comes as the industry grapples with the mixed reception of OpenAI’s GPT-5, a release that has led some to ponder whether the sector is entering a “trough of disillusionment” following the initial surge of AI hype. Despite varied feedback, the underlying pace of AI innovation remains relentless.
Indeed, the influence of AI agents is already reshaping product strategy at major companies. Pinterest’s CEO, for instance, believes that “agentic shopping”—where AI autonomously handles user purchases—remains a distant prospect, citing user readiness as a key hurdle. Conversely, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky expressed openness to integrating with AI agents, confident that such integration would not commoditize his business. Replit, a development platform, is already adapting its monetization model, shifting from flat-fee pricing to “effort-based pricing.” This change directly reflects the escalating compute costs associated with running advanced AI agents for complex tasks, highlighting a tangible impact on business models.
Beyond strategic shifts, concrete product innovations continue to emerge. OpenAI has introduced a new set of “Connectors,” enabling ChatGPT to seamlessly reference information from services like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Contacts within conversations. Perplexity, a rising player in the AI search space, has expanded its Pro and Max plans with video models. When combined with its Comet browser, these models can execute complex, end-to-end tasks, such as generating a property flyover video from a static image and then posting it online. Perplexity also made headlines with an audacious $34.5 billion offer for Google Chrome, a move fueled by Google’s ongoing antitrust case, and had reportedly considered acquiring Brave earlier this year, signaling a broader interest in browser market disruption.
Meanwhile, Apple, known for its measured approach, is reportedly delaying the rollout of its enhanced AI-powered Siri until 2027. This cautious timeline is seen by analysts as a strategic move to avoid potential missteps. Intriguingly, reports also suggest Apple is developing a novel piece of hardware concurrently: a robot resembling an iPad mounted on a motorized arm. Nicknamed the “Pixar Lamp,” this device can swivel, reposition, and extend, mimicking human head movements to engage with speakers, hinting at a new frontier for interactive home AI.
The human element of the AI revolution is also undergoing significant shifts. Shopify’s COO has introduced “vibe coding” as a mandatory component of product management interviews, signaling a novel approach to assessing team fit and soft skills in a tech-driven environment. Industry data reveals varying success in retaining engineering talent, with Google, Nvidia, Meta, and Apple excelling, while Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta are rapidly expanding their engineering teams. Conversely, companies like Tesla, Bloomberg, and Walmart face challenges in retaining talent. Factors contributing to retention include strong technical leadership, clear career growth paths beyond management, a healthy work pace, and robust psychological safety. A recent survey of over 800 engineers found that a striking 53% believe AI can already code better than humans. Further research indicates that while most employees are comfortable collaborating with AI agents, only 30% would be comfortable being managed by one—a figure surprisingly high to some observers. Nevertheless, organizations are rapidly embracing AI agents, with 82% expanding their use and fewer than 1% reporting no plans. The market for AI companion apps is also booming, with global downloads surging 88% year-over-year to 220 million, and revenue per download more than doubling since 2024. Character.AI, for example, boasts a $30 million-plus annual revenue run rate and 20 million monthly active users, who spend an average of 75 minutes daily interacting with bots.
From automating product decisions to reshaping corporate strategy and redefining human-AI interaction, artificial intelligence continues its profound transformation of the technology landscape, challenging established norms and forging new pathways for innovation and work.