Leading with Perspective – with Larry McGrath

Leading with Perspective – with Larry McGrath

From Phenomena by ReD Associates

May 28, 2026 · 31 min · Season 3 · Episode 8

About this episode

Larry McGrath discusses how social sciences can enhance the design of conversational AI products.

What makes a conversation feel natural rather than scripted? What kills it in three seconds? What makes someone feel understood versus processed? In this episode, we are joined by Larry McGrath, a User Research Lead at Amazon, where he has spent the past four years working on Alexa Plus, Amazon’s conversational AI platform, to talk about how to build AI that actually works for people. With deep roots in the social sciences, Larry has dedicated his career to understanding how sociology, anthropology, and the study of conversation can shape the design of AI products that feel more natural, responsive, and human. In conversation with ReD’s Tamara Moellenberg, Larry walks us through the layers of the AI product stack and makes the case for why social scientists belong at every level, from how we design the rhythm of a conversation to how we align an AI’s values for coherence, not just the avoidance of bias. He also reflects on what product managers most often get wrong: losing sight of the human need they set out to meet in the first place. Host: Tamara Moellenberg Guest: Larry McGrath Introduced by Matthew Janney

People in this episode

Host: Tamara Moellenberg

Guest: Larry McGrath

Topics covered

  • AI design
  • human interaction
  • social sciences
  • conversational AI
  • product management

Keywords

  • conversational AI
  • sociology
  • anthropology
  • human-centered design
  • product management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Amazon

Products: Alexa Plus

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