Smart Home

Keep it simple, stupid

Steve Chazin
Steve Chazin Former Apple executive · Princeton EE ·

So while everyone can remember the phrase "KISS" :keep it simple stupid (or keep it sweet and simple if you have kids) it seems that no one can really do such a thing but Apple.  You see, creating software and hardware is a really hard thing.  You focus on getting the features in and getting the bugs out.  And you are so close to the product while you build it that it's easy to lose sight of the goal.  Keep it simple.  This CW article really hits the nail.  One of the tenets of my eBook is clear here: get early adopters to help you, but build easy-to-use pragmatic products for the late majority mass-market.  In a nutsell, build it for your mom.

Steve Chazin

Want the next one? It lands in your inbox.

AI for the Rest of Us: one plain-English email a week. Free, and you can leave anytime.

Keep reading

AI The Machines Understand You Now We are entering the Digital RenAIssance, a shift where AI democratizes creation. Power is moving from those who code to "Vibe Creators": people who imagine things and guide AI to build it. You no longer need coding skills; you just need clear intent and a reason for it to exist. AI Welcome to the Era of the Free Personal Assistant In this post, I tracked one ordinary hour of my life - diagnosing a battery charger, analyzing eye prescriptions, planning a trip to see my son. Seven everyday tasks, no coding required. Learning to use these tools is now essential if you want to keep up. AI The Digital RenAIssance Begins: How Artificial Intelligence Is Ushering in a New Era of Human Creativity The renAIssance is here. AI is removing the barriers between imagination and creation — like the printing press and internet did before. We’re entering a new era of human creativity unlike any other.

© 2026 Steve Chazin. All rights reserved.