In this episode, Joshua To, VP of Product Design at Meta, shares how AI is reshaping how—and where—we interact with technology. He walks us through Meta’s evolving approach to AR and wearables, why notifications are still the killer use case, and how AI is becoming the “brain behind empathy.”

We dig into what it means to build interfaces that understand you, why audio might be the future’s most underrated platform, and how designing for emotion changes everything—from form factor to function. Joshua also reflects on his path from launching a clothing brand to leading design at Google and Meta, and what those worlds taught him about craft, context, and human-centered systems.

This one’s for anyone designing AI into the real world—where every interface choice carries weight, and intelligence starts with listening.

Key takeaways:

• Empathy Is the Real Intelligence — Joshua flips the definition of smart tech. It’s not just about outputs—it’s about understanding you. Context, tone, emotion—that’s what great AI will sense and respond to.
• Design for the Moment, Not the Feed — AR’s killer use case isn’t games—it’s restraint. Joshua shares why the best AI product might just be the one that knows not to ping you. Context-aware computing is the real unlock.
• Audio Is the Interface to Watch — Forget screens. The most powerful interface might be your ears. From wearables to ambient signals, Joshua explains why audio design is the next big frontier for human-centered AI.
• AR Isn’t a Feature—It’s a System of Consideration — Joshua reframes augmented reality as quiet, ambient infrastructure. The real power of AR isn’t spectacle—it’s subtlety. It helps you move through the world with less friction, not more.

LinkedIn: Joshua To | LinkedIn
Website: Home - Joshua To
Meta: Meta Careers

00:00 Intro: Fixing Notifications With AI
00:54 Meet Josh: VP of Product Design at Meta
02:06 From Hoodies to Hardware: Josh's Journey
03:53 The Google Experience: From Ads to Product Management
10:37 The Evolution of Google Glass and AR
19:12 The Role of AI in Josh's Career
22:25 Designing the Future: AR, VR, and Attention Management
32:49 Contextually Aware Suggestions
33:38 Leveraging Generative AI in Design
34:52 AI's Role in Concept Art and Storyboarding
41:24 AI Tools and Model Capabilities
45:54 The Future of AI and Wearables
51:58 Reflections and Takeaways

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.

In this episode, Greg Shove, CEO of Section and founder of Machine and Partners, joins us for a "where are they now" follow-up—and doesn’t hold back. Greg walks through the rise of Pro AI, his new AI-powered coach, and why traditional upskilling is already obsolete.

We explore the overlooked friction points in AI adoption, from cultural taboos (“it feels like cheating”) to failed enterprise rollouts. Greg challenges the prevailing mental models and warns that the real upheaval is still ahead: business model disruption, not product disruption.

From royalty-based agents to outcome-based pricing, Greg lays out why service-heavy industries—from law firms to SaaS—are heading for a margin-crushing future. Plus: the moral responsibility of CEOs, the fallacy of lifelong learners, and why working with AI means holding onto your own judgment.

A sharp, honest look at what it really means to work smarter—not just faster—in the age of AI.

Key takeaways:

• AI use is no longer optional—it's the new baseline.
  Proficiency with AI tools isn’t a competitive edge anymore—it’s a basic requirement. Greg argues that “being in the AI class” is now table stakes, and organizations must rapidly close the gap between aspiration and actual adoption.
• Business model disruption will hit harder than tech disruption.
  Greg makes a compelling case that AI’s biggest impact won’t come from the tools themselves, but from entirely new ways of charging for value—like outcome-based pricing and AI-native service models that undercut human capital costs.
• Leaders must shift from AI policies to AI manifestos.
  Adoption is stalling because organizations lead with fear. Instead, Greg urges leaders to clearly message that using AI is smart, encouraged, and expected—and to model that behavior themselves.
• Most people won't be lifelong learners—so give them outputs, not courses.
  With Pro AI, Greg confronts a hard truth: most users don’t want to learn; they want results. AI-powered coaching that delivers outcomes—not just education—is the future of upskilling.

Linkedin: Greg Shove | LinkedIn
Website: Greg Shove | AI Strategist & Keynote Speaker for Enterprise Leaders
Section: Section | AI workforce transformation for real ROI
Machine & Partners: AI Consulting Services | Machine and Partners

00:00 Embracing AI: Changing Work Culture
00:29 Introduction: Meet Greg Shove
01:10 AI in Daily Work: Tools and Changes
03:59 Business Model Disruption: The Next Big Shift
12:45 Training and Adoption Challenges
19:14 The Future of Work: AI's Impact on Jobs
32:02 Leadership and AI: Strategies for Success
35:20 Embracing AI in the Workplace
36:51 Workflow Redesign with AI
39:39 The Role of AI Agents
40:12 Challenges in AI Adoption
45:14 Pro AI: The AI-Powered Coach
51:03 Disrupting Business Models with AI
57:52 Cognitive Offloading and AI
01:03:02 Final Thoughts and Reflections

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of The AI Implementation Audit: What Section’s CEO Learned in 18 Months

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.

In this episode, John Waldmann, CEO of Homebase, shares how the 10-year-old SaaS company blew up its roadmap and rebuilt around AI—from culture to code. He walks us through the shift from 20-page PRDs to lightning-fast demos, reclaiming product leadership, and pushing teams into their “oh shit” moment with AI.

We explore the leadership reckoning, cultural resistance, and practical playbook behind the transformation—and what it means for the future of SaaS, small businesses, and human-centered AI. If you're leading (or bracing for) an AI shift, this one’s packed with hard-earned lessons and honest insight.

Key Takeaways:

• You Can’t Wait for Buy-In—Leadership Means Pushing the Shift — John didn’t wait for excitement or alignment—he took back product leadership and forced the move toward AI. It wasn’t about consensus, it was about momentum. If you’re leading a team through this kind of shift, your job isn’t to ask for permission—it’s to create urgency before it's obvious.
• Speed Over Specs — Prototypes Are the New Strategy — Homebase moved from 20-page PRDs to live demos built in hours. That switch didn’t just make shipping faster—it changed the way teams learn, think, and listen to customers. The takeaway? Stop planning in the abstract. Ship something real, now.
• Culture Is the Real AI Roadblock — The hardest part of going AI-first isn’t tech—it’s trust, fear, and inertia. From engineers to support teams, John had to help people reach their “oh shit” moment with AI. That’s when change sticks. Until then, it’s just optional homework. Leaders need to make adoption inevitable.
• AI Should Bring You Closer to Your Customers, Not Farther — This episode isn’t about chasing shiny tools. It’s about using AI to reduce the noise—so your team can focus more on humans, not less. For John, pragmatic AI is about freeing up time, getting closer to customer problems, and making the org feel smaller, not colder.

LinkedIn: John Waldmann | LinkedIn
Homebase: All-in-one Employee Scheduling, Time Clocks, Payroll, & More | Homebase

00:00 Introduction and Initial Reactions to AI
00:31 Meet John Waldmann and the Story of Homebase
00:53 Reinventing Homebase as an AI-First Company
01:46 From PRDs to Prototypes: Building Faster, Learning Smarter
05:02 How AI Is Reshaping the Customer Experience
09:19 Culture Shock: Resistance, Skepticism, and AI Adoption
14:03 The End of SaaS as We Know It?
19:34 Leading Through Disruption: Ownership, Urgency, and Org Design
25:12 Forcing the Shift: Getting Teams to Embrace AI
27:50 Hiring the Unemployed—and Other Nontraditional Talent Bets
28:56 Curiosity > Credentials: What to Look for in AI-Ready Teams
31:57 New Expectations, OKRs, and Holding Teams Accountable
37:10 Serving Small Businesses Better with AI
44:52 Final Thoughts: Team Dynamics, Founder Risk, and What’s Next

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Rebuilding from Inside: How John Waldmann Led an AI Shift Without Breaking His Team |

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.