The AI Competence Mirage: What Product Leaders Are Getting Wrong

Episode notes

In this episode of Beyond Product Management , Heather Miller sits down with Makoto Kern , product strategy and UX leader, to unpack what really drives successful products — especially in a world obsessed with speed, AI, and shipping “something” as fast as possible. Makoto shares his journey from electrical and robotics engineering on the manufacturing floor to leading enterprise and B2C product strategy, and how firsthand exposure to poorly designed software shaped his holistic approach to product development. Together, Heather and Makoto explore why jumping straight into wireframes is often the most expensive mistake teams make, how product owners act as the true connective tissue between business, UX, and engineering, and why “slowing down” early is the fastest way to win long-term. The conversation also dives deep into the current AI hype cycle, drawing parallels to the dot-com boom and bust. Makoto introduces the concept of the “AI Competence Mirage” — where AI creates the illusion of expertise without true understanding — and explains why experience, judgment, and asking better questions matter more than ever.