Google Search's Robby Stein on scaling product decisions from startups to billions

Building a first product and iterating on one that billions depend on present fundamentally different challenges. While the drive to move quickly, validate assumptions, and improve the offering remains constant, the ripple effects of each decision expand dramatically as user bases grow. This dynamic sits at the heart of a Builders Stage conversation scheduled for the upcoming conference.

Robby Stein, vice president of product for Google Search, will lead a fireside chat titled "From MVP to Billions of Users: How Product Decisions Must Change at Scale" at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The session examines how product teams navigate the tension between velocity and dependability, between introducing innovations and preserving what users already trust, when their work touches billions of people worldwide.

TechCrunch Disrupt takes place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, drawing over 10,000 founders, investors, and technology leaders. Early registration offers savings of up to $200 before pricing increases on September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with additional 30% discounts available for group passes of four or more attendees.

Rethinking playbooks as products mature

A core tension emerges when experimentation must coexist with user expectations for reliability. How can teams introduce new capabilities without eroding confidence in existing features? Which instincts from the startup phase deserve preservation as organizations scale?

Stein's discussion bridges the gap between launching an initial minimum viable product and operating within one of the world's largest product organizations. The focus centers on what shifts when maintaining user trust and delivering consistent performance become paramount concerns.

For founders, the value lies not in replicating Google's specific processes but in understanding the reasoning behind them: identifying where speed provides competitive advantage, recognizing where deliberation becomes necessary, and determining when operational approaches must mature alongside the product itself.

A career spanning startup and scale

Stein's background encompasses both entrepreneurship and large-scale consumer product development. He co-founded and led Stamped, a social recommendations platform that Yahoo acquired. His tenure at Instagram spanned five years leading consumer products, during which he contributed to building and scaling Stories, Feed, Direct Messaging, and Reels. Most recently before rejoining Google in 2024, he served as head of product at Artifact, an AI-powered news aggregation service.

This trajectory positions him to address the transition from early-stage products to established platforms from both perspectives. Anyone navigating the shift from initial launch to growing infrastructure gains insight from someone whose work has traversed both territories.

Generative AI amplifies the stakes

Stein currently works on generative AI products and experiences integrated into Google Search, placing him at the intersection of deploying emerging technology while reshaping how people access information.

The scope is significant. Google announced in May that AI Mode had reached 1 billion monthly active users within a year of launch. Earlier in 2024, Stein described enhancements enabling users to transition from AI Overview results into extended conversations within AI Mode, illustrating a search experience accommodating both immediate answers and exploratory inquiry.

This work directly informs the session's central inquiry: How do teams advance a product while preserving the reliability users depend upon? For founders integrating AI into their offerings, the question extends beyond technical capability to encompass how people will actually engage with the experience.

Growth stages demand evolving approaches

These considerations matter regardless of current user scale. Whether refining an initial offering, expanding an emerging platform, or reimagining an established service, each growth phase warrants examining the decisions that enabled previous progress.

Disrupt 2026 brings together participants across six industry stages, roundtables, breakout sessions, an Expo Hall, Startup Battlefield competitions, and extensive networking venues. The conference provides both the structured session and ongoing dialogue with founders, investors, and operators.

Products evolve continuously. Ensuring that the approach to building them evolves in parallel remains essential. Registering before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT secures savings of up to $200 on passes, with group rates providing an additional 30% discount for four or more attendees.