Robby Stein
VP of Product at Google Search
Robby Stein is VP of Product for Google Search, responsible for AI Overviews, AI Mode, Google Lens, and the ranking algorithm. Previously Head of Product at Instagram where he launched Stories, Reels, and Close Friends, growing it to 500M DAUs.
Dimension Profile
Key Themes
Episode Summary
Robby Stein shares lessons from building products at massive scale — launching Instagram Stories and Reels to grow Instagram to 500M DAUs, and now leading Google Search through its AI transformation. He argues that AI is expansionary for search rather than threatening, and reveals his philosophy of relentless improvement that has driven success across both Instagram and Google.
Leadership Principles
- → AI is expansionary — there are more questions being asked and curiosity fulfilled, not less
- → Embody relentless improvement in everything you build
- → The vastness of what people use search for is underappreciated — AI expands it further
Notable Quotes
"The core Google search isn't really changing. People want a specific phone number, a price, directions. The vastness of that is underappreciated. AI is expansionary — there's more curiosity being fulfilled now."
— On why AI enhances rather than threatens Google Search
"What I'm feeling now is just an incredible sense of focus and urgency. Things have hit a tipping point where these models are now truly able to deliver for consumers."
— On the shift in energy at Google as AI models mature
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