Uber's Product Chief Reveals How AI Tools Like ChatGPT and Gemini Enhance His Work Efficiency

Sachin Kansal, Uber’s Chief Product Officer (CPO), is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools into his daily workflow to manage the demands of operating one of the world's largest ride-hailing platforms. In an episode of “Lenny’s Podcast” released on Sunday, Kansal detailed how he uses OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini to streamline his tasks. Kansal joined Uber eight years ago, initially serving as the director of product management. He ascended to the role of CPO in the past year, overseeing critical product decisions and innovations. One of the primary challenges he faces is the vast amount of information he needs to process, including lengthy research reports that can span 50 to 100 pages. Given his busy schedule, Kansal relies on AI to summarize these documents, providing him with a quick overview of key points and market trends without the time-consuming process of reading the entire report. For instance, Kansal uses ChatGPT and Gemini to stay informed about rider sentiments and operational dynamics across different regions such as South Africa, Brazil, and Korea. This helps him make data-driven decisions and align product strategies with regional needs. The AI tools not only condense the information but also provide insights that traditional methods might overlook. In addition to summarizing reports, Kansal leverages AI as a research assistant, particularly for brainstorming sessions. When considering a new driver feature, Kansal queried ChatGPT’s deep research mode to gather perspectives and ideas. The responses were so insightful that they served as a valuable starting point for discussions with his team, enhancing creativity and efficiency in the development process. This approach highlights how AI can complement human expertise, offering fresh angles and data that human researchers might not easily access or analyze. Khosrowshahi, Uber's CEO, has been vocal about the need for his employees to adopt AI more widely. In April, he mentioned that too few of Uber's 30,000 employees are utilizing these tools and emphasized that learning to work with AI for coding and other tasks would be "an absolute necessity" within a year. This mandate underscores the company’s commitment to staying competitive in an increasingly AI-driven market. Looking ahead, Kansal expressed interest in Google's NotebookLM, a tool designed for research and note-taking. Although he hasn’t started using it yet, Kansal sees potential in its “Audio Overview” feature, which generates a podcast-like discussion between two AIs summarizing uploaded content. He believes this could be a game-changer for consuming complex information in an engaging and accessible format. NotebookLM, introduced in mid-2023, has garnered attention for its innovative features. Industry insiders, like Andrej Karpathy, Tesla’s former AI director and OpenAI co-founder, have praised its capabilities. Karpathy noted that the tool might be pioneering a new format for AI products, comparing it to the impact of ChatGPT. He sees it as a highly compelling product that could revolutionize how professionals interact with and consume information. Kansal's use of AI reflects a broader trend in the tech industry where companies are increasingly relying on these tools to enhance productivity and decision-making. By integrating advanced AI solutions, Uber aims to stay at the forefront of innovation, ensuring that its product development and operational strategies remain efficient and responsive to user needs. The adoption of NotebookLM and other advanced AI tools by key executives like Kansal signals a strategic shift towards harnessing AI’s full potential, potentially setting a precedent for the entire organization and the industry at large.