# Google's Robby Stein on scaling products to billions > Google's VP of product shares how decision-making changes when your product goes from startup to serving billions of users. - Title: Google's Robby Stein on scaling products to billions - Summary: Google's VP of product shares how decision-making changes when your product goes from startup to serving billions of users. The instincts that work for… - Keywords: google, robby stein, product management, scaling, techcrunch disrupt 2026, google search, ai mode, product strategy, founders, startups, technology, Google's - Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/21/from-first-users-to-billions-googles-robby-stein-joins-techcrunch-disrupt-2026 - Author: TechCrunch Events - Published: 2026-09-21T14:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: google, robby stein, product management, scaling, techcrunch disrupt 2026, google search, ai mode, product strategy, founders, startups, technology ## The scaling paradox Getting people to try your first product is one challenge. Changing a product that billions already rely on is another. The instincts that helped you get started may need an update. ## Robby Stein at Disrupt 2026 Google's VP of product for Search leads a fireside chat on the Builders Stage exploring how product teams balance speed with trust when decisions affect billions of users. ## The core tension How do you keep experimenting when users expect your product to work every time? How do you introduce something new without undermining what people already value? ## From MVP to billions Stein's session tackles the shift from building a first minimum viable product to making decisions inside one of the world's largest product organizations, focusing on what changes while maintaining trust. ## A career spanning both sides Stein co-founded Stamped, acquired by Yahoo, led consumer products at Instagram including Stories and Reels, and was head of product at Artifact before returning to Google in 2024. ## AI at Google Search scale Stein now works on generative AI products within Google Search. AI Mode surpassed 1 billion monthly users a year after its debut, placing him at the intersection of new technology and how billions find information. ## Balancing innovation and reliability Recent updates let people move from AI Overview into follow-up conversations in AI Mode, designed to accommodate both quick answers and deeper exploration without losing what makes people depend on Search. ## Why this matters for founders Whether you're refining your first product or rethinking an established experience, the next stage of growth is a reason to examine the decisions that got you this far and how your approach needs to evolve. ## Disrupt 2026 details TechCrunch Disrupt returns to Moscone West in San Francisco October 13 to 15, bringing together 10,000 plus startups, investors, and tech decision-makers across six industry stages and 200 plus sessions. ## Register before prices rise Save up to 200 dollars on your pass before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Save 30 percent more if you grab group passes for four or more. ## Key takeaway The instincts that work for early-stage products need to evolve when you're making decisions at global scale, balancing speed with reliability.