Weekend AI Projects Reveal Product Possibilities
by Howie Liu on August 31, 2025
The "AI Playground Project" approach helps product leaders develop intuition for AI capabilities through hands-on experimentation rather than passive observation.
When facing rapid AI innovation, product leaders need to develop deep intuition about what's possible. Simply reading about capabilities or watching demos isn't enough. The most effective approach is creating small, self-directed projects that force you to use AI tools in realistic scenarios.
Why playground projects work
- They create a concrete reason to use AI tools beyond superficial exploration
- They reveal limitations and capabilities that aren't obvious from marketing materials
- They help you understand the "feel" of working with different AI systems
- They build muscle memory for effective prompting and interaction patterns
- They provide insights into how users might actually apply these tools
How to implement playground projects
- Set aside dedicated time (a day or even a full week) specifically for AI exploration
- Create small, self-contained projects with a clear output goal
- Example: "Create a funny video short using AI-generated scripts and avatars"
- Example: "Build a research report on a topic by combining multiple AI tools"
- Intentionally combine multiple AI tools in a single workflow
- "Do deep research with ChatGPT, generate a script, create HeyGen avatars, etc."
- Choose projects that are personally interesting but low-stakes
- Aim for completion within a few hours (these shouldn't be major undertakings)
Benefits beyond technical understanding
- Develops intuition for what's possible with current AI capabilities
- Reveals product form-factors and UX patterns beyond default interfaces
- Helps identify gaps between raw model capabilities and user-friendly implementations
- Builds empathy for how non-technical users might approach these tools
- Provides concrete examples you can share with your team
Applying this to organizational leadership
- Encourage team members to block out calendar time for AI exploration
- Share your own playground project results to normalize experimentation
- Create a culture where "playing" with technology is seen as valuable work
- Use these projects to identify potential product opportunities
- Develop shared understanding of AI capabilities across different roles
The playground project approach transforms abstract AI capabilities into concrete product possibilities through direct, hands-on experience rather than theoretical understanding.