How to Build Defensible AI Products with Tair Asim, Head of Product @ Sync, formerly buildspace

What happens when you combine brand, community, and AI, not just to automate tasks, but to create real human connection?

In this episode, Daniel sits down with Tair Asim, creator of Sage, the AI-powered networking tool that helped thousands of builders connect through natural language, and Head of Product at Sync, where he’s now leading vertical integration in AI-powered video editing.

Tair shares lessons from both worlds: why Sage worked because of the community behind it (not just the tech), how vertical integration creates defensibility in a fast-moving AI market, and why focusing narrowly on a niche often leads to the biggest breakthroughs.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

📌 For Founders & Product Builders:

• ✅ How brand, community, and AI combined to make Sage stand out
• ✅ Why vertical integration matters when foundational models evolve fast
• ✅ How to spot the difference between a feature and a defensible business

📌 For Business Leaders Adopting AI:

• ✅ What spontaneous, unstructured AI interactions can unlock in your product
• ✅ How to prioritize quality inputs to get high-value AI outputs
• ✅ Why narrowing your niche can be the best way to scale later

🔗 Resources & Links

• 👨‍💻 Connect with Tair on X: @tair
• 🎥 Check out Sync’s latest product launches: sync.so
• 📩 Subscribe to the Artificial Insights newsletter for episode recaps and key takeaways

🚀 Love the show? Leave a review and share it with someone building in AI!