Inside Google's AI turnaround: AI Mode, AI Overviews, and vision for AI-powered search | Robby Stein

Robby Stein is VP of Product at Google, where he oversees the core products of Google Search—including the new AI Overviews, AI Mode, search ranking, Google Lens, and more. Previously, he led consumer products at Instagram, where he and his teams built Stories, Reels, Close Friends, and other key features now used by billions. *What you’ll learn:* 1. Why Google’s AI products are suddenly taking off after years of perceived stagnation 2. How AI is expanding Search rather than replacing it, contrary to what many predicted 3. The three core product principles that have helped Robby build multiple billion-user products 4. Inside Instagram’s decision to build its own version of Snapchat Stories 5. His mantra of “relentless improvement” 6. How Google developed AI Mode from concept to launch in just one year 7. Why most teams give up too early on potentially transformative products *Brought to you by:* • Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security: https://vanta.com/lenny • Jira Product Discovery—Confidence to build the right thing: https://atlassian.com/lenny/?utm_source=lennypodcast&utm_medium=paid-audio&utm_campaign=fy24q1-jpd-imc • Orkes—The enterprise platform for reliable applications and agentic workflows: https://www.orkes.io/ *Transcript:* https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-google-built-ai-mode-in-under-a-year *My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers):* https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/175041217/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation *Where to find Robby Stein:* • X: https://x.com/rmstein • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbystein/ *Where to find Lenny:* • Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com • X: https://twitter.com/lennysan • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/ *In this episode, we cover:* (00:00) Introduction to Robby Stein (04:46) Google’s recent success with AI (06:08) The evolution of Google Search (09:41) AI Mode and its impact (15:30) The rise of AEO (18:50) Building successful AI products (21:31)   Embodying relentless improvement (30:10) Lessons from Instagram Stories (35:20) Driving growth in established products (40:08) Balancing optimization and innovation (43:39) The journey of AI Mode: From launch to expansion (48:05) Organizational changes and urgency (49:51) AI Mode vs. competitors (51:35) Core product principles (57:07) Instagram’s Close Friends feature (01:03:01) The importance of resources in development (01:06:39) AI corner (01:11:19) Curiosity and learning (01:15:01) Lightning round and final thoughts *Referenced:* • Google Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app • Nano Banana: https://aistudio.google.com/models/gemini-2-5-flash-image • Chat GPT: https://chatgpt.com/ • Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/ • Google Lens: https://lens.google/ • AI Google search: https://www.google.com/ai • Why ChatGPT will be the next big growth channel (and how to capitalize on it) | Brian Balfour (Reforge): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/why-chatgpt-will-be-the-next-big-growth-channel-brian-balfour • Alex Rampell on X: https://x.com/arampell • A 4-step framework for building delightful products | Nesrine Changuel (Spotify, Google, Skype): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-4-step-framework-for-building-delightful-products • Look broader, look closer, think younger: Tony Fadell speaks at TED2015: https://blog.ted.com/look-broader-look-closer-think-younger-tony-fadell-speaks-at-ted2015/ • Jobs to Be Done: https://www.christenseninstitute.org/theory/jobs-to-be-done/ • The ultimate guide to JTBD | Bob Moesta (co-creator of the framework): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-jtbd-bob-moesta • Rinstagram or Finstagram? The curious duality of the modern Instagram user: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/26/rinstagram-finstagram-instagram-accounts • V03: https://v03ai.com/ • Pirate GPT: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/silentmeditation/pirate-gpt/ • The Bear on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/series/the-bear-05eb6a8e-90ed-4947-8c0b-e6536cbddd5f • Dune on HBO Max: https://www.hbomax.com/movies/dune/e7dc7b3a-a494-4ef1-8107-f4308aa6bbf7 • Top Gun: Maverick: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745960/ • Purple pillows: https://purple.com/pillows • Avocado pillow: https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com/products/green-pillow *Recommended books:* • Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice: https://www.amazon.com/Competing-Against-Luck-Innovation-Customer/dp/0062435612 • The Design of Everyday Things: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded/dp/0465050654 • Aurora: https://www.amazon.com/Aurora-High-Stakes-Survival-Navigate-Darkness/dp/0062916475 • Project Hail Mary: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135202 _Production and marketing by https://penname.co/._ _For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com._ Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.