AI & I

In this discussion, Paul Ford, co-founder of Aboard and a celebrated tech writer, dives deep into the groundbreaking capabilities of Opus 4.5. He shares how this AI model enables autonomous coding and dramatically speeds up app development. Paul reflects on the emotional impact of such rapid technological change, urging careful consideration of its effects on roles and craftsmanship. The conversation also explores societal reactions, the importance of transparency, and the future of consulting as AI reshapes industries.

Josh Miller and Hursh Agrawal, co-founders of The Browser Company, recount their bold decision to halt Arc in favor of launching Dia, a next-gen browser infused with AI. They reveal the intense public backlash they faced and the essential reasons behind their pivot, emphasizing how AI demanded a fresh architectural approach. The duo shares insights into their prototype culture and the exciting user feedback on Dia's AI capabilities. They discuss the emotional struggles and team dynamics during this transition, highlighting the vision of a browser as a personal intelligence layer.

Kieran Klaassen, general manager of Cora, and engineer Nityesh Agarwal dive into the power of AI in engineering workflows. They explore how AI agents can significantly enhance productivity, making a two-person team feel like a crowd of 15. Kieran shares insights on using Claude Code for everything from debugging to generating detailed GitHub issues. Nityesh contrasts various coding tools while emphasizing the importance of early issue detection. They also highlight the significance of combining human expertise with AI agents to streamline the development process.

Henrik Werdelin, co-founder of BarkBox and Prehype, discusses his ambitious goal of launching a million $1M businesses using AI. He introduces the concept of portfolio entrepreneurship, emphasizing the power of multiple ventures focusing on shared customers. Henrik explains how AI democratizes entrepreneurship, lowers barriers, and enhances relationship capital among products. He explores the role of self-awareness in choosing customers and shares insights on parenting, AI’s impact on kids, and the optimism surrounding technology's future.

In a deep dive with Jason Fried, co-founder of 37signals and creator of Basecamp, he shares insights from 26 years in product design. He discusses how tactile design in architecture and watches influences software aesthetics. AI's role in enhancing personal tools sparks debate, as he reflects on its potential to accelerate prototyping. Jason emphasizes the importance of authenticity over imitation in creative work, and the need for unique, soulful products in a market filled with indistinguishable options.

Silvio Savarese, Chief AI Scientist at Salesforce, leads the charge in pioneering AI technologies for enterprises. He reveals how Salesforce powers over 13,000 businesses with innovative tools like Agentforce, merging human and AI efforts for enhanced productivity. Savarese discusses building large language models pre-dating ChatGPT and how trust underpins Salesforce AI solutions. He highlights challenges like data siloing and the importance of simulation environments in ensuring agent reliability, painting a future where personal and enterprise agents work seamlessly together.

Cat Wu and Boris Cherny, engineers at Anthropic, share their journey in developing Claude Code, a groundbreaking AI coding tool. They discuss how the design evolved from initial prototypes to a user-friendly terminal interface. The duo dives into the importance of internal testing and feedback, revealing favorite commands and templates that simplify workflows. They also tackle the balance between harnessing model advancements and rapid prototyping to enhance user experience, making coding accessible for both technical and non-technical users.

Danny Aziz, the general manager of Spiral and a creative craftsman, shares insights on transforming AI writing tools. He discusses how the redesigned Spiral enhances editorial taste and encourages intentional writing. Danny emphasizes the importance of slowing down to improve AI-generated content quality. He also highlights the power of multi-agent workflows and the philosophy that good writing stems from deep thinking. Ultimately, he argues for using AI as a partner without compromising craftsmanship.

Join Alex Duffy, the Head of AI Training and brains behind Good Start Labs, as he discusses the innovative role of games in training AI models. He reflects on lessons learned from games like RuneScape and reveals why traditional testing benchmarks are outdated. By using games like Diplomacy, Alex showcases how AI can develop negotiation skills and strategic thinking. He also shares insights on the future of AI in fields like education and life sciences, emphasizing how gaming can demystify AI for the public.

Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, shares insights from his 20 years in tech leadership, emphasizing that AI agents will augment rather than replace human jobs. He explains how productivity gains lead to new opportunities, a concept he ties to Jevons Paradox. Drawing parallels with earlier tech revolutions, Levie discusses transforming workflows and the role of knowledge workers as managers of AI. He emphasizes the importance of creating an AI-first culture and explains the balance between tackling immediate issues and innovating for the future.