Build vs. buy is one of those product decisions that never goes away — and AI is changing how teams think about it (but maybe not in the way you expect). In this episode of All Things Product, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres unpack the build vs. buy conversation through real examples, personal stories, and practical decision-making frameworks. Teresa shares why she would never build her own blogging platform — but did build her own task management system — and what that reveals about core value, data ownership, and long-term maintenance. Together, Petra and Teresa explore how AI, vibe coding, and cheaper prototyping are shifting the economics of building software, why data portability has become a first-class concern, and how product teams can de-risk build vs. buy decisions using discovery practices — not gut feel. If you’re navigating vendor lock-in, debating whether your team should “just build it,” or rethinking these decisions in an AI-first world, this episode will help you ask better questions before you commit.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related