CPO Reveals Why Vibe Coding Is Breaking B2B Products (And How to Fix It)

Jonathan Abon, a seasoned CPO and engineer with 30 years in AI/neural networking, joins Lihong Hicken to discuss the real challenges facing B2B software companies in the age of vibe coding. They explore why speed without direction is dangerous, how to balance rapid prototyping with proper user feedback, and Jonathan's "Usability Index Scoring" framework for measuring user experience in near real-time. Jonathan shares his process for turning around underperforming product portfolios and why he still believes in jobs-to-be-done, customer needs mapping, and usability testing — even when everyone else is "just shipping." Timestamps: 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction 1:04 — Jonathan's Background: Engineer Turned CPO 2:38 — What's Wrong with B2B SaaS Today? 3:21 — SaaS vs. AI-Centric Applications Explained 4:23 — How AI Is Changing Product Development (3 Ways) 5:11 — The Scaling Problem: Speed vs. Stability 8:49 — Vibe Coding & The New Way of Building Products 10:13 — Does Vibe Coding Replace User Research? 11:01 — Feedback Fatigue: When Users Get Overwhelmed 11:42 — The Danger of "Throw It at the Wall" Product Dev 13:22 — Finding the Right Balance: Strategy + Speed 13:48 — Why Usability Testing Still Has Value 14:06 — Customer Needs Mapping & Jobs to Be Done 16:13 — Where Vibe Coding Actually Helps (Surgical Innovation) 17:32 — Tech Stack for Feedback: NPS & Beyond 17:58 — Usability Index Scoring: The 4-Part Framework 19:48 — Why Traditional Usability Testing Is Getting Harder 20:09 — The Rise & Fall of UserTesting.com (Private Equity Problem) 24:27 — Magic Wand: What Would Make Feedback Dramatically Easier? 26:26 — Most Fulfilling Moment as a Product Builder 🔗 Try TheySaid.io — 5 free user tests/month: https://theysaid.io

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If you want to understand your customers more deeply and unlock growth that doesn't rely on guesswork, this series is for you. Founders, operators, and product leaders tune in to learn how real conversations shape better products, better decisions, and better outcomes.

In each episode of UX Stories Podcast, you'll explore how fast-growing teams uncover meaningful insights using smarter feedback loops and authentic user conversations. Inspired by the approach behind TheySaid, this show digs into why traditional surveys fall short and how modern teams gather richer, more actionable signals that drive real business impact.