Around the Prompt

Dwarkesh Patel, host of the Dwarkesh podcast and recognized as one of TIME's most influential figures in AI for 2024, dives into the transformative powers of artificial intelligence. He discusses how AI will reshape our world in the next couple of years, touching on innovative writing tools that enhance creativity. The conversation also explores the delicate balance between authenticity and engagement in content creation, and the evolving role of AI in medical research and education, all while highlighting the need for trust in this fast-changing landscape.

Join Nolan Fortman and Logan Kilpatrick for a deep dive on the world of coding with GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke. We chat about: - Personal software creation using AI - Open source in the age of AI - AI enabling coding changing how developers work and much more! Thomas is leading the charge for one of the world's most important developer companies. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!

Join Alex Atallah, CEO of OpenRouter, a platform transforming AI accessibility for developers and consumers, as he discusses the evolution of local AI models. He dives into the importance of open vs. closed models and how user engagement is crucial for ranking AI performance. Technical hurdles in developing OpenRouter are explored, particularly how Cloudflare has boosted routing speed. Additionally, Alex highlights the emerging standards in AI that could revolutionize the marketplace and shares insights on future challenges, such as semiconductor supply chains.

Chamath Palihapitiya, a tech and finance expert, joins Nolan Fortman and Logan Kilpatrick for a captivating discussion. They delve into the transformative shift in AI perceptions and the advantages of open-source models. Chamath highlights the evolving landscape of energy and computation costs, emphasizing the impact on AI applications. He also explores how technology is reshaping drug discovery, aiming to enhance efficiency. Lastly, they tackle economic fragility and the vital role of transparency in business regulations, making for a thought-provoking conversation.

Simon Willison, a software developer renowned for his contributions to Django and Dataset, dives into the compelling interplay of AI, open source, and journalism. He discusses how open-source tools like Dataset are revolutionizing data journalism and democratizing access to data analysis. Simon emphasizes AI's role in enhancing human capabilities rather than replacing them, while addressing concerns about the future of artificial general intelligence. He also explores the transformation of programming with large language models and their potential to support new developers.

Shreya Rajpal, a key figure in developing Guardrails, discusses the evolution of AI reliability tools. She highlights the critical need for AI validation and the challenges in moving from concept to production. Shreya draws parallels between AI and self-driving technology, advocating for the importance of guardrails to ensure safe and effective AI systems. The conversation also covers the role of open source in AI development and emphasizes the necessity of benchmarks and regulation to improve AI performance and mitigate risks associated with generative AI.

Quinn Slack, CEO of Sourcegraph, aims to revolutionize coding through AI. He shares insights on building a Google-like code search tool and the journey from challenges to advancements in coding automation. The discussion emphasizes AI’s potential to empower non-technical users and the importance of manual input before full automation. Quinn highlights the future of software development, integrating various tools for a seamless coding experience, and discusses fostering innovation while managing realistic expectations in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Andrew Mayne shares his journey from magician to AI at OpenAI, discussing prompt engineering, using AI to deceive sharks, and the importance of clear prompts. He talks about teaching magic tricks, the evolution of prompt engineering, and concerns about deep fakes. Mayne explores the potential impact of AI in education and the accessibility of AI models.

In this episode, Logan and Nolan dive deep into building AI product's with Marily Nika, a lead product manager at Google. We explore how AI on its own is not a product. AI product managers act as a bridge between AI and user needs. The role of AI product managers is to solve the right problems for users by leveraging AI capabilities. The demand for AI product managers is increasing, with companies like Anthropic and OpenAI actively hiring for these roles. AI product managers need to be comfortable with technology and have a good understanding of AI concepts and options. They also need to collaborate with scientists and engineers to make informed decisions about technical approaches. And much more!

Ben Tossell, founder of Makerpad, discusses the democratization of software through low/no code tools and AI integration. He explores the potential of AI in different industries and shares insights on building Makerpad without coding experience. Tossell talks about his lifestyle business and the launch of Ben's Bites, an AI-focused newsletter. He also delves into investing in AI startups and the challenges they face in the industry.