Day 21: AI Talk vs. AI Execution
Today marks 21 days since I requested the report referenced on blog.nextdoor.com, in which Jacob Chavis of Nextdoor (jchavis@nextdoor.com) was listed as the contact for the full study.
Why did I request it?
Simple.
I wanted to understand the details behind the research:
What methodology was used?
What was the sample size?
What demographics were represented?
How was the data collected?
Basically, is this a meaningful research study or more of a FAMILY FEUD survey board?
It’s now been three weeks.
I’ll give some grace—it is Sunday, the weekend, and right after celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America.
However, throughout my career, as a manager and even before moving into leadership roles, responsiveness mattered. I monitored communication through company tools and responded when something required attention.
Now, compare that experience with one I recently had.
I use the Dexcom Stelo CGM to monitor my blood glucose levels. Since I’m not insulin dependent, I don’t qualify for a traditional Dexcom CGM under my UnitedHealthcare requirements, but Stelo helps me manage important health information.
Recently, my sensor session ended 8 days early.
That matters because consistent monitoring helps me understand if my glucose is trending too high or too low.
I had just received my regularly scheduled replacement, so I was able to swap sensors—but that meant I would eventually be short.
What happened next?
I used the Stelo chatbot.
It asked questions.
Created the incident.
Guided me through the process.
I filled out the required information.
Less than 24 hours later, a replacement CGM was on the way.
That made me think:
Why isn’t Nextdoor using AI like this?
A real-time AI assistant could help with:
Neighbors experience issues.
Moderation questions.
Suspension appeals.
Advertiser concerns.
Basic customer support.
Nirav Tolia frequently discusses AI as part of Nextdoor’s future.
The question I continue asking is:
Where is the execution that directly improves the user experience?
Talking about AI is easy.
Implementing AI where customers actually feel the impact is the difference.
Read more and join the discussion at NielFlamm.com
