AI Revisited – Part 2

REWORK host Kimberly Rhodes speaks with 37signals co-founder and CEO Jason Fried about using Claude in design work and deciding how AI should enter 37signals products. His examples focus on interactive prototyping and reversible local data rather than treating generated code as a finished implementation.

Key Points Covered

• Prototype without waiting on a busy teammate: Fried uses Claude to implement a recent-chat interaction so he can experience the idea while the person he had already asked is occupied with other work [00:03:38]-[00:06:35].
• Generate realistic local test data: Claude populates a local Basecamp database with multi-user conversations, attachments, and varied messages, then removes the temporary data after the design exercise [00:08:18]-[00:11:09].
• Separate native features from external agents: Fried expects selective embedded AI alongside customers bringing agents into Basecamp through simpler surfaces and command-line access [00:13:56]-[00:20:01].
• Keep optional power out of the way: AI should help interested customers without making the product harder for people who do not want it [00:21:05]-[00:24:56].

These personal workflow examples demonstrate faster iteration but provide no measurements for implementation quality, rework, or time saved.

Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwFT3h55oOc(opens in a new tab)