Keith Coleman & Jay Baxter

Product Lead (Keith) & Founding ML Engineer (Jay) for Community Notes

X (formerly Twitter)

🎯 Product Strategy (2)⚡ Execution (1)

Key Takeaways

1.Community Notes uses a 'Bridging-based ranking' algorithm, not majority rule, requiring agreement from users who typically disagree.
2.The 'Thermal' team model operates like a startup within a big corp: small autonomous teams, no middle management, and direct lines to executive decision-makers.
3.Paradoxically, anonymous contributors are more likely to cross partisan lines and agree on facts than those using real names.
4.Open sourcing the algorithm and data was critical for trust; users can audit and replicate the system's decisions.
5.Community Notes reduces the virality of misinformation by 50-60% without actually deleting the content.
6.Launch strategy: Prove viability at every step (Mockups -> MTurk -> Pilot -> Scale) to overcome internal skepticism.

Methodologies(3)

Bridging-Based Ranking Framework

by Keith Coleman & Jay Baxter

🎯 Product Strategy

Instead of asking 'is this note popular?', the algorithm asks 'is this note helpful to people who usually disagree?'. It utilizes matrix factorization to identify user clusters and only surfaces content that bridges the divide between polarized groups.

Core Principles

1.Identifies 'polarized' clusters based on past rating behavior.
2.Requires a 'Bridging Signal': Positive ratings must come from diverse viewpoints, not just one side.
3.Prioritizes context over censorship: Add context to misleading posts rather than deleting them.
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"We actually look for agreement from people who have disagreed in the past... that's what makes the notes so neutral and accurate."

#bridging-based#ranking#strategy

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The 'Thermal' Team Operating Model

by Keith Coleman & Jay Baxter

⚡ Execution

A governance structure that insulates a small, mission-driven team from corporate inertia. It mimics early-stage startups by removing middle management and focusing 100% on shipping code.

Core Principles

1.Single-Threaded Leadership: One 'Founder' lead with a direct line to the ultimate decision maker (e.g., Elon/CEO).
2.Radical Focus: Team members are 100% dedicated to the project, no split allocation.
3.Lean Staffing: Start with exactly one of each necessary role (1 ML, 1 Backend, 1 Frontend, 1 Design).
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"If I were to start a company... it would be even leaner than I would've made it before. I've been amazed with just how much the team is able to accomplish with a small group."

#'thermal'#operating#execution

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Progressive De-risking Launch Strategy

by Keith Coleman & Jay Baxter

🎯 Product Strategy

A methodical approach to validation where the product must 'earn' its next expansion by proving quality metrics at the current stage. It moves from static concepts to restricted pilots before public rollout.

Core Principles

1.Concept Validation: Test static mockups with diverse user groups to prove the *demand* for truth exists.
2.Capability Validation: Use MTurk/Contractors to prove average humans *can* write high-quality notes.
3.Controlled Pilot: Launch to a small group (e.g., 1k users) to refine the algorithm.
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"We were very disciplined... about having the product prove itself at every given point."

#progressive#de-risking#launch

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