Company
Date Published
Author
Morgan Scalzo
Word count
1464
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The conversation between Tim from Statsig and Ronny Kohavi explores the evolution and current landscape of experimentation in product development, highlighting the increased presence of experimentation platforms compared to the mid-2000s when Kohavi worked at Amazon. Kohavi emphasizes the importance of trust, rigorous testing methods like A/A tests, and the challenges organizations face due to inertia in implementing these practices. He notes common mistakes in experimentation, such as premature celebration of results and lack of adequate training, and discusses the need for a cultural shift toward data-driven decision-making. Kohavi also addresses the role of AI in experimentation, suggesting that it will enhance segment identification and parameter optimization, while emphasizing the integration of feature flags and controlled experiments for more sensitive evaluation. He underscores the significance of server-side experimentation over client-side due to scalability concerns. Kohavi reflects on the cultural challenges in adopting experimentation, drawing parallels to paradigm shifts described by Thomas Kuhn, and concludes by advocating for continuous learning and innovation in the field.