Airtable
What is Airtable?
Airtable is a cloud-based database and spreadsheet hybrid tool that teams use for organizing and storing data. In the context of AI product development, it's commonly used for storing transcripts, traces, and evaluation data, functioning as an accessible data store that integrates easily with automation tools like Zapier. Airtable's spreadsheet-like interface makes it approachable for non-technical users while providing database functionality for structured data storage.
Why do teams use Airtable for AI workflows?
Teams choose Airtable for AI product development because it offers a practical middle ground between spreadsheets and full databases. It doesn't require specialized technical knowledge or database administration skills, yet it can handle structured data, relationships, and API integrations. This accessibility makes it ideal for early-stage AI products and prototypes where teams want to start building quickly with tools they already own or can adopt easily.
For example, when building an Interview Coach, Airtable can store interview transcripts, track which students have submitted recordings, store the AI-generated feedback, and capture traces of each AI interaction—all without needing to set up and maintain a production database.
What should teams consider when using Airtable?
While Airtable works well for prototypes and internal tools, teams need to consider data security and compliance when storing sensitive information. If you're collecting customer data, interview transcripts, or other private information, you'll need to evaluate whether Airtable's security features meet your compliance requirements (like SOC 2). For production products handling sensitive data, teams may eventually need to migrate to more robust database solutions with stronger security controls.
Learn more:
- Behind the Scenes: Building the Product Talk Interview Coach
- How I Designed & Implemented Evals for Product Talk's Interview Coach
- Product in Practice: Getting Started with Several APIs (And the Challenges I Faced)
Related terms: