1. The Timeless Truth

“If your product doesn’t become a must-have, people won’t keep using it.
And without retention, you cannot grow — no matter how strong the AI.”

AI changes distribution, but not the core mechanics of sustainable growth.

2. The Three Unchanging Fundamentals

1. Product-Market Fit Still Critical

A product must become a must-have, not a nice-to-have.

• Users experience undeniable ongoing value
• Product must solve a real, painful problem
• Users would be upset if it disappeared tomorrow
• NPS still matters — emotional resonance drives longevity
• AI shifts discovery, not PMF itself

2. Retention Determines Growth

Without retention, nothing else scales.

• Users return daily/weekly
• Engagement increases over time
• Product becomes embedded in workflow
• Cohort retention curves flatten
• AI or not, a leaky bucket kills growth

3. Must-Have, Not Nice-to-Have

Value must be so strong that users stay without being asked.

• Evangelism happens organically
• Churn feels irrational for core users
• Users invent workarounds when blocked
• Word-of-mouth emerges naturally
• Nice-to-have products die instantly in downturns
  → AI products are not exempt

3. The “Aha Moment” Matters More Than Ever

For AI products, the aha moment cannot be subtle — it must be undeniable.

Traditional Aha (SaaS)

• “This is better than what I use now.”
• Incremental improvement
• Rational evaluation
• Good enough → user switches

AI Aha Moment (Magnitude Shift)

• “This changes everything.”
• Emotional shock
• Cognitive recalibration
• Perception of capability jump
• Leap, not step

→ Result: Evangelism
Users:

• Screenshot
• Share
• Tell friends
• Become internal advocates
• Create viral loops organically

This word-of-mouth engine is the backbone of AI product distribution.

4. The Stakes Are Higher for AI Products

“You either hit breakout and everything takes off… or you run out of runway.”

Traditional SaaS

• Can be patient and incremental
• PMF evolves quarter by quarter
• Multiple small bets
• Optimize slowly
• Linear growth acceptable
• Time is your friend

AI Products

• Binary outcomes: breakout or stagnation
• PMF must arrive fast
• Viral loops must come early or burn rate wins
• Growth is step-function, not linear
• Must-hit “aha moment” quickly
• Time is your enemy