Product Development

AI is accelerating food product development, cutting timelines and reducing physical prototyping for major companies like McCormick and Unilever. Startups offer “virtual sensory” platforms to screen recipes and predict consumer preferences. However, current AI capabilities are limited, often requiring significant proprietary data and human expertise for meaningful results. While AI can enhance efficiency, analyze data, and manage complexity, human perception and taste remain the ultimate determinants of product success.

General Motors is undergoing a significant restructuring of its software and product development divisions, marked by the departure of several key executives including SVP Baris Cetinok. This follows similar exits by Dave Richardson and Barak Turovsky. The changes are part of a consolidation effort led by Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson, aimed at unifying software and hardware engineering to accelerate innovation. The departures raise questions about GM’s ability to retain tech talent and successfully execute its software-driven strategy.