Tool Use - AI Conversations

Lee Russell, founder of Minimum Viable Launch, shares over a decade of AI expertise focusing on personalization at scale. He discusses the importance of creating high-tech yet high-touch customer experiences, emphasizing qualitative data over typical metrics. Lee explains context engines and how to avoid generic 'AI slop' while creating unique outputs. He also highlights the power of no-code tools like n8n and vector databases to enhance data interactions, urging listeners to experiment and build their own AI agents for remarkable customer engagement.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXStruggling to cut through the AI hype to find real operational efficiency for your business? In this episode, we're joined by Csongor Barabasi, CEO of Bonsai Labs, an AI value creation partner for private equity firms. Csongor shares his expert framework for deploying AI agents to achieve massive productivity gains.Learn the practical steps to progress from a simple AI co-pilot to a fully autonomous AI agent , and discover how to create a 'golden data set' and feedback loops to make your systems smarter over time. We cover the critical build vs. buy debate , strategies for process automation , data security considerations , calculating ROI for AI projects , and enabling non-technical teams to build custom workflows. This is your ultimate guide to using AI for tangible business results.Csongor is the founder/CEO of Bonsai Labs, a specialized AI transformation and value creation firm working with Private Equity portfolio companies. With engineering excellence at it's core, the they deliver AI workflow automations and build custom AI products with tangible impact within weeks.Bonsai Labs: https://bonsai-labs.comCsongor: https://linkedin.com/in/barabasicsongorConnect with ushttps://x.com/ToolUsePodcasthttps://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/barabasicsongor00:00:00 - Intro00:02:40 - The Framework: Co-Pilot to Fully Autonomous Agent00:11:26 - AI Solutions: The Build vs. Buy Debate00:16:03 - AI for Non-Technical Teams00:27:40 - How to Document a Process for Automation00:31:36 - How to Measure the ROI of AISubscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and process automation.Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive.

Discover how AI coding agents are changing software development with Kiran's insights on optimizing your development environment. Learn about the importance of feedback loops, clear pipelines, and organized code to enhance AI performance. Kiran dives into Slate’s unique context management strategies that prevent common pitfalls and help agents excel in complex tasks. Explore why traditional software engineering skills are still crucial, and gain practical tips for structuring projects that maximize AI coding capabilities.

Marnie Wills, an AI strategist and founder of Business With AI Strategist, shares her insights on empowering non-technical founders to harness AI effectively. She discusses framing AI as a strategic partner rather than a technical hurdle, advocating for personalized AI operating systems to enhance intelligence. Marnie elaborates on preventing AI hallucinations with custom instructions and emphasizes the importance of a 'human-in-the-loop' approach for automation. She also reveals innovative workflows, including voice-driven productivity and grant application automation.

In this discussion, Bobbie Chen, a product manager at Stytch focused on AI agent detection, navigates the future of AI authentication and web security. She delves into how OAuth can allow safer agent permissions without exposing user passwords. Bobbie introduces Web Bot Auth, highlighting its cryptographic identity features. The conversation also tackles AI's potential impact on SEO, advertising, and API design, addressing risks like the 'lethal trifecta' of security. Join in for an engaging exploration of the evolving landscape of AI agents on the web!

In this conversation, Michael Tiffany, founder and CEO of Fulcra, and AI consultant Ty Fiero, delve into the art of advanced AI prompting. They share insights on crafting tailored prompts to maximize AI performance, including innovative techniques like iterative and meta prompting. The duo emphasizes adopting a 'high agency' mindset, avoiding AI sycophancy, and leveraging multimodal prompting with images. Listeners will discover the importance of playful learning and experimentation in mastering how to communicate effectively with AI for improved results.

Richard Abrich, an AI consultant and the creator of Fastable, shares his insights on building full-stack apps from just one prompt. He discusses the power of Fastable's tech stack, including FastAPI and Postgres, as a flexible alternative to traditional tools. Richard dives into context engineering, AI hallucination mitigation, and the innovative use of logging to speed up development processes. The conversation also touches on the future of disposable software and how AI is reshaping application development, making coding more accessible for everyone.

Unlock the secrets to massive productivity gains using AI. Discover how to build a sophisticated 'digital brain' with Obsidian and implement personalized automations. Learn about the powerful role of voice transcription in boosting efficiency. Hear tips on using AI coding assistants for script creation, along with essential terminal utilities. Dive into media tools that can help with tasks outside your expertise. Embrace AI as a thought partner while balancing creativity and caution.

Hai Nghiem, co-founder of AI Ventures Canada and educator in AI fundamentals, dives deep into the world of AI tooling. He explains the concept of context engineering as a superior alternative to prompt engineering. Listeners will explore the distinctions between AI agents and chatbots, and learn about the Model Context Protocol— likened to 'USB-C for agents.' Nghiem also shares practical tips for beginners using coding tools, highlighting the power of deep agents in enhancing productivity and reasoning. Perfect for anyone looking to navigate the AI landscape!

Austin Cook, CEO of Alignment Lab AI, and Jordan Parker, marketing expert at the same organization, dive into the world of open source AI. They explore how decentralized models can empower individuals against the monopolies of big tech. Discover the benefits of running AI locally on your hardware, the evolution of resource-efficient models, and the significance of data privacy. They advocate for transparency in AI technologies, highlighting how personalized assistants will become more accessible, fostering a future where everyone can innovate.