
How to Increase Workplace Productivity. Notion's Lead AI Engineer Shir Yehoshua on High-Risk, High-Reward AI Projects
07/30/24 • 45 min
1 Listener
Join us as we chat with Shir, the engineering lead of Notion AI, about her journey into AI, from her early fascination with Apple's speech-to-text technology to her impactful contributions at Google and Waymo. Shir shares insights into her current role at Notion, the innovative AI projects she's leading, and the unique culture of experimentation and failure that drives product development. Discover how AI drafts performance reviews in minutes, celebrates code deletion in team demos, and integrates seamlessly with Slack to provide precise answers. Plus, learn about innovative tools like the AI writer that helps overcome writer’s block and enables effortless content creation. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Notion's unique culture fosters innovation and continuous improvement.
00:00 Introduction to Shir and AI Journey
00:47 Early Fascination with AI
01:36 Career at Google and Voice Search
03:43 Transition to Waymo and Challenges
05:11 Joining Notion and Initial Impressions
06:09 Adopting AI at Notion
11:55 Internal Use and Impact of AI
15:12 Challenges and Innovations in AI Integration
20:05 Monitoring and Feedback Mechanisms
22:39 Strength and Flexibility in Product Development
23:44 Exploration vs. Exploitation Phases
24:47 Speed Enables Quality
27:50 Overcoming Sunk Cost Fallacy
30:36 Celebrating Failures and Learning
33:11 The Future of AI and Creativity
34:44 Practical Uses of AI in Daily Work
38:04 The Evolution of Human-Computer Interaction
41:02 Final Thoughts and Reflections
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.
Join us as we chat with Shir, the engineering lead of Notion AI, about her journey into AI, from her early fascination with Apple's speech-to-text technology to her impactful contributions at Google and Waymo. Shir shares insights into her current role at Notion, the innovative AI projects she's leading, and the unique culture of experimentation and failure that drives product development. Discover how AI drafts performance reviews in minutes, celebrates code deletion in team demos, and integrates seamlessly with Slack to provide precise answers. Plus, learn about innovative tools like the AI writer that helps overcome writer’s block and enables effortless content creation. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Notion's unique culture fosters innovation and continuous improvement.
00:00 Introduction to Shir and AI Journey
00:47 Early Fascination with AI
01:36 Career at Google and Voice Search
03:43 Transition to Waymo and Challenges
05:11 Joining Notion and Initial Impressions
06:09 Adopting AI at Notion
11:55 Internal Use and Impact of AI
15:12 Challenges and Innovations in AI Integration
20:05 Monitoring and Feedback Mechanisms
22:39 Strength and Flexibility in Product Development
23:44 Exploration vs. Exploitation Phases
24:47 Speed Enables Quality
27:50 Overcoming Sunk Cost Fallacy
30:36 Celebrating Failures and Learning
33:11 The Future of AI and Creativity
34:44 Practical Uses of AI in Daily Work
38:04 The Evolution of Human-Computer Interaction
41:02 Final Thoughts and Reflections
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.
Previous Episode

The Future of Books and Improving Your memory with AI: Steven Johnson (Author and Google Labs)
Steven Johnson on NotebookLM: Revolutionizing Writing and Research
Steven Johnson, author of 14 books on the history of science and technology, discusses Google’s new writing and research tool, NotebookLM. He elaborates on how walking influences creativity, the importance of play in innovation, and shares insights into using AI for augmenting thought and memory. The conversation covers his role in co-creating NotebookLM with Google Labs, the importance of uploading sources for effective use, and the potential of AI to enhance both authorship and readership. Johnson also touches on potential future developments, such as recommending additional sources and addressing privacy concerns. The dialogue highlights the revolutionary potential of AI-driven tools in research and content creation.
00:00 Introduction to Steven Johnson
00:20 The Role of Walking in Creativity
02:27 The Importance of Play and Uselessness
04:35 Notebook LM: A New Research Tool
07:02 The Genesis of Notebook LM
09:29 Building and Innovating at Google Labs
12:48 Using Notebook LM for Writing and Research
22:24 Exploring New Book Ideas with Notebook LM
25:27 Exploring AI's Role in Research
25:56 Future of AI in Recommending Sources
26:44 Tone and Style in AI Writing
29:20 Privacy and Copyright Concerns
30:26 AI's Impact on Writing and Creativity
36:05 New Forms of Reading and Books
40:29 Practical Tips for Using NotebookLM
44:34 Reflections on the Future of Authorship
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.
Next Episode

A sobering talk about the need for ethical data for AI models with Phoebe Yao
In this episode, we talk with Phoebe Yao, founder and CEO of Pareto.ai, about fair and ethical data labelling platform aimed at advancing support for AI researchers. The episode addresses data labelers' challenges and stresses the need for higher standards and worker empowerment. We talk about the critical role of domain experts in AI training, the impact of ethical practices on data quality, and the broader implications for the future of work in AI. This episode offers valuable insights into how Pareto.ai supports workers and ensures quality, highlighting often-overlooked ethical concerns in the AI industry.
Disclosure: Jeremy Utley is an angel investor in Pareto.ai
00:00 Introduction to Pareto and Ethical Data Labelling
00:31 Spotlight on Pareto's Mission
01:53 Understanding Ethical Data Labelling
02:16 Challenges in the Data Labelling Industry
06:00 Impact of Ethical Practices on AI Training
08:03 The Role of Domain Experts in AI Training
13:28 Adapting to AI's Disruption in the Labor Market
20:56 Ethical Consumption of AI Products
25:44 Practical Uses of AI in Business
29:18 Closing Thoughts and Future of Ethical AI
Disclosure: Jeremy is an investor in Phoebe Yao’s company.
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.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/beyond-the-prompt-how-to-use-ai-in-your-company-355669/how-to-increase-workplace-productivity-notions-lead-ai-engineer-shir-y-64901219"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to how to increase workplace productivity. notion's lead ai engineer shir yehoshua on high-risk, high-reward ai projects on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy