Explore every episode of the podcast Tool Use - AI Conversations
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hermes Agent has won. Here's why | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:35:21 | |
Check out www.ToolUsePodcast.com Hermes Agent has emerged as the open source AI agent that people are choosing. In this episode, we go beyond the hype to understand why. Through conversations with a co-founder of Nous Research, AI engineering veterans, and non-technical builders, we explore what Hermes can actually do today, where it falls short, and why the choice of which agent you use matters more than you think. From self-improving skills and three-layer memory to video dubbing workflows and CAD hardware sourcing. These are real people getting real value from an agent they own. But the deeper story is about what happens when your AI infrastructure is closed vs open. The decisions you make today about which tools you use are shaping the future of AI for everyone. Open source must win, and this episode explains why. Follow the amazing guests Karan - Co-founder & Head of Behavior, Nous Research: https://x.com/karan4d Wolfram Ravenwolf - AI Evangelist and Creator Wolfbench: https://x.com/WolframRvnwlf Robert Desmond — Founder & CEO, Farm Friend: https://x.com/twodogseeds Evan Roach — Product Developer: https://x.com/evvaaannnn Kat Winter - https://x.com/katspigeon Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:52 - Ambient Agents 00:05:12 - Why everyone is switching to Hermes Agent 00:17:53 - Real-World AI Agent Use Cases & Automations 00:29:59 - Why Open Source Must Win Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and the open source AI movement. Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| How To Make Your Websites Fully Autonomous (ft rtrvr) | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:42:04 | |
Check out www.ToolUsePodcast.com Are AI web browsers falling short of the hype? Enter Rover, a revolutionary open-source AI agent that unlocks full autonomous workflows directly on your website with just a single script tag. In this episode, Arjun and Bhavani from rtrvr return to dive deep into how Rover uses a unique DOM-only approach to navigate, click, and type with subsecond latency. This innovative method completely bypasses slow screenshot-based models and outdated playwright or puppeteer scripts. We discuss the engineering secrets behind building smart DOM trees, why they crushed web benchmarks, and how Rover provides a powerful alternative to Google's Web MCP by keeping users engaged on your site instead of handing traffic over to external AI tools. Plus, learn how you can trigger complex agentic workflows via simple URL queries and why open-sourcing this technology is a massive win for the developer community. Rover links:https://x.com/rtrvrairover.rtrvr.ai Connect withus 00:00:00 - Intro Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and web automation. Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| How To Make Your A.I. Product Go Viral (ft Mano Tsiris) | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:46:39 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX In 2026, building an AI product is easier than ever, but getting traction and finding customers is the real challenge. In episode 82 of Tool Use, we sit down with Mano Tsiris, a serial exited founder and head of growth at Optimal AI, to break down the ultimate go-to-market strategy for technical founders and builders. Discover how to validate your startup ideas and talk to users before writing a single line of code. Mano shares his proven marketing playbook, including how to build in public on LinkedIn, repurpose content using AI tools like Gemini and Claude Code, and leverage IRL events to grow your network. Whether you are bootstrapping a side project or trying to get your first hundred users, this conversation is packed with actionable advice on distribution, audience building, and standing out in a crowded market. Mano Tsiris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emanueltsiris Optimal AI: https://getoptimal.ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:53 - Mindset Shift: From AI Builder to SaaS Seller 00:09:21 - Building in Public & Thought Leadership Strategies 00:11:21 - Repurposing Content & SEO with AI Tools 00:22:12 - A/B Testing & Finding Viral Hooks with Gemini 00:26:56 - Startup Ideation: How to Validate SaaS Ideas Before Building 00:37:02 - The Ultimate AI Marketing Tech Stack for Founders Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and startup growth. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| How To Build a Hybrid AI System with Any-LLM (ft Nathan Brake) | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:44:00 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Are you looking to optimize your AI applications with the best open source Large Language Models? This week, we explore open source AI, rapid model switching, and local self-hosting with Nathan Break, a Machine Learning Engineer at Mozilla AI and the creator of Any-LLM. Any-LLM is an open-source Python SDK that allows developers to seamlessly talk to any LLM provider through a single, unified interface. Nathan demonstrates how developers can instantly swap between cloud-hosted AI providers and local models like Llamafile by changing just a single line of code. We dive into the growing capabilities of smaller, cost-effective models, how to reduce your API expenses, and the security benefits of running local AI on your own hardware. Nathan also introduces the Any-LLM Platform, a secure vault for managing API keys that tracks your token usage and enforces budget limits without ever accessing your prompt data. Finally, we check out Porch Songs, Nathan's open-source application that leverages LLMs to rewrite the lyrics of popular songs while maintaining their original rhyme schemes and chord charts. Check out the projects mentioned in this episode: Any-LLM GitHub: https://github.com/mozilla-ai/any-llm Any-LLM Platform: https://any-llm.ai Mozilla AI Blog Post: https://blog.mozilla.ai/introducing-any-llm-a-unified-api-to-access-any-llm-provider Porch Songs GitHub: https://github.com/njbrake/porchsongs Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:25 - What is Any-LLM? Unified API for Open Source AI 00:05:32 - Benefits of Rapid Model Switching & Open Weight Models 00:11:06 - Any-LLM Python SDK Demo: Mistral Image Recognition 00:19:51 - Best Local AI Models: Llamafile, LM Studio & Local LLMs 00:24:38 - Any-LLM Platform Vault & Porch Songs App Demo 00:34:45 - AI Coding Agents, Claude Code & LLM Evaluations Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and open source development. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| AI Sovereignty - Control Your Entire AI architecture (ft Max McCrea) | 24 Feb 2026 | 01:05:34 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Are you putting your business at risk by relying on big AI companies? In this episode of the Tool Use podcast, we dive deep into Sovereign AI with Max McCrea, founder of Greyhaven. We explore how businesses can maintain control of their private data while still benefiting from AI. Max breaks down the importance of self-hosting and building architectures that abstract away the model provider so you can easily swap them out. We also discuss practical AI architecture decisions, the dangers of un-sandboxed AI agents, and how to set up software-defined sandbox environments to reduce the attack surface. Whether you are curious about running open source models or replacing proprietary tools, this episode provides a guide to taking back control of your systems. Guest Links: https://greyhaven.co https://maxmccrea.com https://github.com/GreyhavenHQ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:12:17 - AI Context Management & Personal Data Indexing 00:20:40 - Open Source Replacements vs Proprietary SaaS Tools 00:29:14 - Corporate AI Data Harvesting & Vendor Lock-in 00:49:18 - LLM Orchestration & AI System Architecture 00:53:24 - Best Open Source AI Models for Self-Hosting Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and data sovereignty. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| Do You Need A Vector Database in 2026? (ft Arjun Patel) | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:59:00 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Vector databases can be an important component for building reliable AI agents and scalable semantic search applications. In this episode, Arjun Patel from Pinecone breaks down how to optimize your RAG pipeline, choose the right embedding models (sparse vs. dense), and implement effective chunking strategies for better data retrieval. We also explore the new Pinecone plugin for Claude Code, demonstrating how to build a recommendation system and chat with your documents using Pinecone Assistant without writing complex code. https://www.pinecone.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunkirtipatel/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:11 - What Vector Databases Unlock 00:04:40 - Optimal Chunking Strategies for RAG 00:09:07 - How Embedding Models Work 00:17:25 - Improving Search with Re-ranking 00:26:52 - SQL vs Vector Database Architecture 00:35:48 - Claude Code & Pinecone Assistant Demo Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and vector databases. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| Fine-Tune Your Own A.I. Video Model (ft. Greg Schoeninger) | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:43:29 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock the power of AI fine-tuning for image and video models with Greg Schoeninger, CEO of Oxen.ai. In this episode, we explore how to move beyond simple prompt engineering to training custom open-source models for as little as $1. Discover the technical strategies for building high-quality datasets, the trade-offs between LoRAs and full fine-tunes, and how to achieve consistent characters and styles in generative video. We dive into real-world examples, including how to generate massive product catalogs for a fraction of the cost of enterprise APIs and the story behind the viral "Isometric NYC" project built with Claude Code. Greg breaks down the entire AI lifecycle—from data curation and labeling with Vision Language Models (VLMs) like Qwen and Gemini to deploying efficient, specialized models that outperform general-purpose giants. Whether you are looking to optimize GPU costs, automate video workflows, or build your own AI tools, this conversation provides the blueprint for scaling your AI capabilities. Links from the episode: Oxen AI: https://www.oxen.ai/ Fine Tuning Fridays: https://luma.com/oxen Isometric NYC Project: https://cannoneyed.com/projects/isometric-nyc Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/gregschoeninger 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:47 - When to Switch from Prompt Engineering to Fine-Tuning 00:11:05 - How to Build a Dataset for AI Fine-Tuning 00:21:52 - LoRA vs. Full Fine-Tuning Explained 00:27:53 - Case Study: Fine-Tuned Qwen 3 VL vs. Google Gemini 00:36:33 - Case Study: Isometric NYC with Claude Code Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and fine-tuning. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| From Marketer to Growth Engineer Using AI (ft Justin Borge) | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:43:04 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock the ability to build AI tools without coding experience as Justin Borge joins Tool Use to demonstrate how he built Helios, a personal management system, using only LLMs like Gemini and Claude. Justin breaks down his transition from marketer to growth engineer, sharing his exact workflows for using JSON documentation to give AI a perfect memory of his business and goals. He reveals his unique "bullying" strategy for debugging code using persona-based prompts and explains how he created a human-in-the-loop system to safely edit local files without hallucinations. This conversation covers everything from writing your first Python script to mastering meta-prompting for maximum productivity. https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinborge/ https://justinborge.com Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:49 - Top AI Tools & JSON Workflows 00:10:06 - Transitioning from Marketing to Engineering 00:12:23 - How to Debug Code Without Coding Knowledge 00:13:56 - Persona Prompting & "Bullying" LLMs 00:18:09 - Live Demo: Helios AI Management System 00:31:29 - How to Start Building AI Tools Today Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and growth engineering. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| Ryan Carson Explains The Ralph Wiggum Loop | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:49:58 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Discover the power of the Ralph Wiggum Loop with Ryan Carson as we explore the future of AI coding agents, autonomous workflows, and building one-person companies. In this episode, we break down how to implement Jeff Huntley’s simplified bash script loop using tools like Claude Code and Amp to ship features faster than ever. Ryan shares his tactical advice on creating high-quality PRDs, defining clear acceptance criteria for agent browser testing, and moving beyond human-in-the-loop development. We also dive into advanced AI engineering strategies, including self-healing systems, MCP servers like Sentry and Fizzy, and how to use LLMs to automate business operations through CRON job insights and email marketing drips. Whether you are an AI engineer or a founder, learn how to stop writing syntax and start orchestrating a fleet of agents to amplify your delivery speed and creative joy. Follow Ryan's Work: Untangle: https://www.untangle-us.com/ Ralph Loop Repo: https://github.com/snarktank/ralph Ryan on X: https://x.com/ryancarson Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/ryancarson 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:17 - How the Ralph Wiggum Loop Works 00:02:46 - Fresh Context Windows vs. Context Rot 00:12:15 - Deterministic Harnessing and Agent Hooks 00:17:59 - Agent Browser Testing & Acceptance Criteria 00:28:13 - Automating Business and Marketing Loops 00:39:09 - PR Review Bots and AI Engineering Workflows Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and orchestration. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| Advanced Claude Code Part 2 (ft Eric Buess) | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:52:27 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Claude Code is evolving from a terminal-based developer tool into the Everything Agent that manages your entire life. In this episode, Eric Buess returns to show us how he built a hands-free, voice-controlled AI system that handles everything from school emails and calendar scheduling to monitoring family text messages. We dive deep into advanced Claude Code strategies, including how to use the hook system to intercept model prompts and the Ralph Wickham loop to enable truly autonomous task completion. Eric explains why he moved away from static claude.md files in favor of programmatic hooks that steer the model with surgical precision. We also explore the power of adversarial sub-agents that fact-check AI claims and the Titus wake word system that lets him command his terminal from a car or Meta Ray-Ban glasses. Whether you are a developer looking to maximize the Anthropic Agent SDK or a productivity enthusiast wanting to reclaim your time, this masterclass in agentic workflows will change how you think about AI automation. Keep up with Eric: https://ericbuess.ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/EricBuess 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:20 - The Claude Code Hook System & Vertical Stack 00:03:08 - Why Agentic Hooks Matter for Automation 00:11:58 - Replacing claude.md with JSON Rules & Hooks 00:16:43 - Multi-Agent Workflows & Adversarial Validation 00:29:58 - Autonomous Task Loops & Self-Referential Injection 00:41:00 - Hands-Free AI: Voice-Controlled Claude Code Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and Agentic Workflows. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| How to Master Distribution For Your AI Apps (ft Sukh Saini) | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:53:59 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Sukh Saini, an exited founder and the creator of Engyne, joins Tool Use to break down the essential strategies for AI product distribution and personal branding. With a track record of 38 products, Sukh shares how he transitioned from a self-proclaimed horrible employee to a successful entrepreneur by mastering the business loop of building, selling, and scaling. This episode covers the vital shift from managing multiple low-revenue apps to focusing on exponential growth through high-conviction projects like Retail, which he sold after finding a unique distribution edge within the Stripe marketplace. Learn why building in public is a massive advantage for establishing trust and why marketplaces like Canva, Stripe, and the ChatGPT store are the next big frontiers for indie developers. Sukh also details his practical framework for validating demand through industry research and hypothesis-driven customer calls, ensuring you solve high-value problems before writing a single line of code. Whether you are interested in B2B SaaS, AI app stores, or building a thought leadership brand on LinkedIn, this conversation provides a tactical playbook for any builder looking to win in the AI era. Engyne: https://engyne.ai/ Sukh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sssaini/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/thisissukh_ 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:21 - How to build a winning product loop 00:04:26 - Mastering product distribution and the Stripe marketplace 00:08:12 - Why building a collection of small apps is a mistake 00:14:56 - Validating SaaS demand before writing code 00:21:56 - Tactical framework for finding customer pain points 00:27:59 - The competitive advantage of building in public 00:42:27 - Unlocking distribution through the ChatGPT app store Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and entrepreneurship. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| How To Get a Job in AI in 2026 | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:45:32 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Master your AI career in 2026 with this comprehensive guide on how to get a job in AI as a developer or non-technical professional. Mike Bird, AI and Engineering Lead at BoxOne Ventures, breaks down his personal journey from software developer to AI leader and shares insider secrets on the modern hiring process. Learn why traditional resumes are failing in the age of AI screeners and why you should embrace building in public, networking at AI Tinkerers events, and creating obnoxious resumes to stand out from thousands of bot-driven applications. Whether you are looking to become an AI engineer, a specialized AI consultant, or the AI champion at your current company, this episode provides actionable strategies on leveraging tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and more to proof-of-concept your way into the fastest-growing industry in human history. We dive deep into the technical skills required for 2026, including managing fleets of AI agents and mastering security audits, while also addressing career pivots for those in their 40s or 50s. Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:02 - Career Pivot Strategy: From Dev to AI Lead 00:03:35 - Beat AI Screeners: The Case for the "Obnoxious" Resume 00:10:43 - 2026 AI Engineer Interview: Technical Screens & Vibe Checks 00:16:08 - AI Consulting vs Productizing: Knowledge Arbitrage Tips 00:20:08 - Build in Public: How to Increase Your AI Luck Surface Area 00:25:30 - Non-Technical Strategy: Becoming an AI Champion 00:30:32 - Realistically how long it takes to transition into AI 00:36:26 - Is it too late to learn AI if you are 40+ or 50+? Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and entrepreneurship. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| The State of A.I. 2025 (ft Richardson Dackam) | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:58:50 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX In this 2025 year-end wrap-up, we dive deep into the massive shifts in the AI landscape, from the surprise release of GPT-5.2 to the rise of open source models like DeepSeek. Mike Bird and Richardson Dackam reflect on a year defined by accelerating iteration cycles, the growing energy bottleneck for data centers, and the emergence of reasoning models that have changed how we approach complex tasks. We also look ahead to 2026, predicting the evolution of browser agents, the integration of AI in physical robotics, and why the next frontier of artificial general intelligence might actually be found in biological simulation. Whether you are interested in fine-tuning open models, the future of AI-generated content, or how programmable payments through crypto will enable the agentic future, this episode covers the essential trends every AI builder needs to know. Check out Richardson's work https://www.nshipyard.com/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/RichardsonDx 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:26 - Frontier Model Race: Gemini 3 vs GPT-5.2 00:07:27 - Open Source AI and the DeepSeek Market Shock 00:12:06 - The Future of AI Interfacing: Voice & Multimodality 00:30:39 - Browser Agents and Agentic Tools for 2026 00:41:58 - Physical AI: The Humanoid Robot Revolution 00:48:20 - The Next Frontier: Why Biology is the Bottleneck for AGI Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and automation. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| AI for Executive Function (ft Sam Julien) | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:39:29 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Discover how to master your executive function and reclaim your schedule with AI. In Episode 71 of Tool Use, Sam Julien (Director of Developer Relations and Experience at Writer) joins Mike Bird to explore how AI acts as the ultimate equalizer for productivity and mental clarity. We dive deep into practical strategies for reducing the time tax of administrative drudgery, using AI voice-to-text for brain dumping, and leveraging models as rubber duck brainstorming partners. Whether you are navigating new parenthood, managing a fast-paced career, or looking to avoid burnout, this conversation covers the micro-skills that lead to massive quality-of-life improvements. From using local Whisper models for privacy to the role of AI in creative work, learn how to stop the brain rot and start using technology to find your flow. Learn more about Sam Julien: http://www.samjulien.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/samjulien/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/samjulien 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:21 - Validating AI Engineering: Moving from Hype to Reality 00:02:14 - Mastering Executive Function with AI Voice Dictation 00:06:53 - AI as a Brainstorming Partner and Rubber Duck 00:15:36 - Solving the ROI Challenge: Context Engineering vs. Drudgery 00:18:43 - Leveraging AI to Prevent Burnout and Admin Fatigue 00:26:14 - Navigating AI Monoculture and Preserving Human Connection Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and executive function. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| A.I. Builder Tips: Voice Control, Fast Orchestration, MCP Integration (Ft Jason Kneen) | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:47:00 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Discover the future of front-end development with Cluso, an AI-powered web inspector and browser designed for "vibe coding." In this episode, Jason Kneen returns to demonstrate how to build bespoke AI tools that go beyond simple transcription. We dive deep into implementing voice control with context-aware agents, mastering the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for tool integration, and building fast orchestration layers to route requests between local models and cloud agents like Claude and Gemini. Whether you are interested in Electron app development, context splicing, or multi-view mobile testing, this conversation covers how top builders are creating their own workflows. Cluso: https://cluso.app/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/jasonkneen 00:00:00 - Intro 00:07:54 - Building Voice Control for AI Agents 00:15:20 - Leveraging MCP for Better Tooling 00:19:42 - Fast Orchestration & Model Routing 00:25:06 - Multi-Model Agent Architecture 00:31:13 - Cluso Demo & Workflow Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and modern software development. | |||
| How To Build an AI Business With a Moat (ft Mike Leslie) | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:41:22 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Discover how non-technical founders are building valid MVPs using vibe coding and Cursor, and why you need to move beyond simple AI wrappers. We sit down with Mike Leslie, CEO of Revela, to discuss the critical strategies for de-risking your business from big AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic. Learn when to transition to in-house open-source models, how to fine-tune small language models (SLMs) for specific use cases, and the best methods for structured data collection to build a defensible IP moat. https://revela.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-leslie-8b48a9141/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/MikeLeslieML 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:14 - Advice for Non-Technical Founders: The "Vibe Coding" Revolution 00:13:07 - Hiring Strategy: Agency vs. In-House Tech Team 00:15:22 - Why You Must Move AI In-House: Small Language Models (SLMs) & Control 00:21:20 - How to Build a Data Moat: Structured Collection & Fine-Tuning 00:29:28 - The Trap of Thin Wrappers: The Cursor vs. Anthropic Cautionary Tale Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI engineering. | |||
| Principles of Building AI Agents (ft Sam Bhagwat) | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:38:23 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Building AI agents is the current trend, but are you doing it correctly? Sam Bhagwat, founder of Mastra, joins Tool Use to breakdown the principles of building reliable AI agents. We discuss why you should use a TypeScript agent framework like Mastra, how to engineer production-grade prompts, and the best patterns for tool calling. Sam explains advanced concepts like observational memory, dynamic agents, and the "lethal trifecta" of security risks. Whether you are building coding agents or enterprise workflows, this episode covers the essential primitives for success. Mastra: https://mastra.ai/ Get the Book: https://mastra.ai/book Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/calcsam 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:19 - When to use an AI Agent Framework 00:06:05 - Principles for designing Agent Tools 00:11:01 - Human-in-the-loop Architectures 00:17:19 - Working Memory vs Long-term Memory 00:32:03 - The "Lethal Trifecta" of Security Risks Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI Agents. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| Coding Agents in Obsidian (ft Artem Zhutov) | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:47:37 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Turn your Obsidian vault into a fully automated operating system using Claude Code and AI agents. In this episode of Tool Use, physicist and AI explorer Artem Zhutov reveals how to leverage coding agents for non-coding workflows to optimize your productivity. Discover how to build a dynamic "second brain" that acts as a personal coach, automates daily planning, and streamlines job searches—all while keeping your data local. Artem breaks down his unique setup where Claude Code interacts directly with his Obsidian files, running Python scripts and custom slash commands to create reliable, affordable, and powerful automations. From "just-in-time" context loading to instant voice note transcription with WhisperFlow, this conversation covers the cutting edge of personal knowledge management (PKM) and local AI assistance. Artem: Website: https://artemxtech.github.io/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtemXTech Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/ArtemXTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:25 - How to Identify & Plan AI Workflows 00:11:36 - Building a "Second Brain" Morning Routine 00:17:48 - Automating Job Searches with Claude Code 00:22:03 - Managing Context with Claude.md Helper Files 00:31:55 - Making AI Agents Reliable with Deterministic Scripts 00:43:27 - How to Start Building Coding Agent Workflows Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and automation. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| How To Build A Successful AI Product (ft Swyx) | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:43:02 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX AI Agents, RAG hype, and the "Impossible Triangle" of LLM Infrastructure take center stage in this deep dive with Swyx (Shawn Wang). As the co-founder of AI Engineer and a team member at Cognition, Swyx breaks down why vertical agents are the golden opportunity for developers right now. We explore the decline of standalone vector databases, the rise of MCP vs. Computer Use, and why your prompts shouldn't live in your codebase. Whether you are building AI tools or trying to scale them, this conversation covers the essential shift from "vibe coding" to serious engineering using AI Gateways and proper evaluations. Swyx's Website: https://www.swyx.io/ Read the Impossible Triangle of LLM Infra: https://www.swyx.io/impossible-triangle Latent Space: https://www.latent.space/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/swyx 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:03 - Why Agentic Browsers Haven't Stuck Yet 00:05:33 - Voice vs Slack: The God Interface 00:11:24 - Why MCP Won & The Reality of Integrations 00:18:27 - The Vector Database Hype Cycle 00:20:37 - Why You Should Build Vertical AI Agents 00:30:03 - Stop Putting Prompts in Your Codebase Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and agentic workflows. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| Practical AI Safety (ft Kyle Clark) | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:40:14 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Explore AI risk mitigation, prompt injection dangers, and AI safety in this deep dive with AI engineering consultant Kyle Clark. We discuss the critical role of human-in-the-loop systems, safe AI implementation strategies for businesses, and the hidden dangers of AI web browsers and context rot. Kyle shares expert insights on leveraging AI tools like Claude Code, managing subagents, the pitfalls of MCP servers, and the build vs. buy debate for AI models. Learn how to use AI safely in your personal life and what companies must do to prepare for an AI transformation, including data governance and permissions management. Keep up with Kyle Clark https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-clark-tech/ Simon Willison's "The Lethal Trifecta" https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/16/the-lethal-trifecta/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:49 - The New Plane of AI Risk & Prompt Injection 00:10:30 - How Businesses Can Implement AI Safely 00:13:21 - Human in the Loop & Claude Code 00:17:18 - Using Subagents as a Mitigation 00:31:03 - The Build vs. Buy Debate for AI Models 00:36:06 - What is Context Rot (And Why It Matters) Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI safety. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| "n8n is powerful enough to replace an entire department" - Richardson Dackam (Ep 64) | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:39:05 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Master n8n workflow automation in this complete guide. If you're tired of manual tasks, n8n (an open-source Zapier alternative) might be the solution. Richardson Dackam, founder and AI builder, joins Mike to explore how developers can save time using n8n. We dive into powerful use cases like email management, social media automation, and prototyping. Learn how to integrate AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini), run custom code scripts, use webhooks, connect to databases, and implement human-in-the-loop validation. Richardson also shares common pitfalls, observability strategies, and the difference between self-hosting and the cloud. Learn more from Richardson: https://richdackam.com https://www.nshipyard.com Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/RichardsonDx 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:32 - What is n8n? (Open-Source Automation) 00:02:23 - Common n8n Use Cases (Email, Social Media) 00:03:36 - Automating Email: AI Tone & Human in the Loop 00:07:02 - Observability, Logging, and Error Handling 00:22:00 - Using Custom Code & JavaScript Nodes 00:29:50 - n8n Cloud vs. Self-Hosting (Features & Security) 00:37:01 - How to Get Started with n8n (Beginner's Roadmap) Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and automation. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| "This is why you need a RAG system" - Apurva Misra | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:45:11 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Is your RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipeline optimized, or is it even necessary? We all know context is king for LLMs, but large context windows might not be the answer. On Episode 63 of Tool Use, we deep dive into RAG with Apurva Misra, founder of Sentick. We explore the entire RAG workflow, from creating and optimizing embeddings to choosing the right vector DB (like Postgres with PG Vector). Apurva explains the critical role of re-rankers , the power of hybrid search (combining semantic and keyword search) , and when to consider agentic RAG. We also cover the essential steps for taking your RAG system to production, including data quality, feedback loops , and safety guardrails. Connect with Apurva Misra: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misraapurva/ Consulting: https://www.sentick.com/ Website: https://apurvamisra.com/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:18 - What is RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)? 00:03:41 - Is RAG Dead? Large Context Windows vs. RAG 00:06:40 - The RAG Workflow: Embeddings, Chunking & Vector DBs 00:28:00 - Do You Need a Re-Ranker? 00:41:24 - Production RAG: Safety, Guardrails & Efficiency Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and RAG. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| "AI allows you to be high tech and high touch" - Lee Russel | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:39:23 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock the power of AI for personalization at scale in your business. While many focus on AI for efficiency, the real game-changer is creating magical, more human digital experiences for your customers. We're joined by Lee Russell, founder of Minimum Viable Launch and an AI expert with over a decade of experience, to discuss how you can leverage AI to be both "high tech and high touch," transforming your marketing, sales, and product delivery. Discover the concept of "context engines" and learn why gathering qualitative customer data is your new competitive moat in the age of AI. We explore the tools you need to build this infrastructure, from powerful automation platforms like n8n to the magic of vector databases for chatting with your unstructured data. Lee also shares his strategies for avoiding generic "AI slop" and creating truly unique, high-quality outputs that will make your customer experience remarkable. Learn more from Lee Russell: https://www.minimalviablelaunch.io/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00 - Intro 01:27 - "High Tech, High Touch": Personalization at Scale Explained 07:55 - The Best Data for AI Personalization 12:03 - How to Avoid Creating "AI Slop" 21:15 - AI Tools for Building Custom Agents (n8n & Vector DBs) 30:37 - How to Start Learning and Escape "Tutorial Hell" Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and personalization. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| How to Become an AI-first Company (ft. Csongor Barabasi) | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:41:11 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Struggling 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.
Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/barabasicsongor 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:40 - The Framework: Co-Pilot to Fully Autonomous Agent 00:11:26 - AI Solutions: The Build vs. Buy Debate 00:16:03 - AI for Non-Technical Teams 00:27:40 - How to Document a Process for Automation 00:31:36 - How to Measure the ROI of AI Subscribe 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. | |||
| AI Coding Agents Can Do So Much More (ft Kiran) | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:47:19 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Coding agents are revolutionizing software development, but are you getting the most out of them? Many AI coding tools struggle with complex, long-running tasks, often getting lost in the middle of a project. In this episode of Tool Use, we sit down with Kiran, one of the core contributors to Slate, a research-driven coding agent built for the toughest production-level challenges. Kiran shares a deep dive into how to properly set up your dev environment to maximize the performance of any coding agent. We discuss the critical role of feedback loops, clear development pipelines, and consistent codebase patterns in getting correct, reliable code from LLMs. You'll learn why models are great at following patterns but terrible at creating them, and how to structure your projects for AI success. We also explore what makes Slate different, including its unique approach to context management that keeps it on track during complex tasks, preventing the performance degradation common in other agents. Find Slate here: https://randomlabs.ai/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:54 - Setting Up Your Dev Environment for AI 00:15:18 - Is Software Engineering Dead? 00:18:20 - Why Coding Agents? The Origin of Slate 00:21:52 - What Makes Slate Different? 00:33:19 - The Bottleneck: LLMs vs Tooling 00:44:30 - Why LLMs Get "Lost in the Middle" Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and coding agents. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| A.I. For Non-Technical Founders (ft Marnie Wills) | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:42:12 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock the power of AI for your business, even if you're not a tech expert. In this episode, AI strategist Marni Wills reveals how non-technical founders can leverage AI as a new operating system to amplify their intelligence. Learn to build powerful AI workflows, create your own AI operating system, and personalize tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity for massive business growth. Marni breaks down her exact process for using AI agents, developing custom instructions to avoid hallucinations, and building a "second brain" to automate tasks from email marketing to securing podcast interviews. This is your guide to making AI work for you, strategically, not technically. Connect with Marni Wills: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnie-wills-entrepreneur Website: https://businesswithaistrategist.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/businesswithai_strategist/ Digital Store: https://stan.store/business_with_ai_strategist Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:19 - First Steps for Non-Technical Founders 00:08:13 - How to Avoid AI Hallucinations 00:11:04 - Building a Custom Prompt Library 00:27:17 - AI Agents vs. Automation (Lindy vs. Make) 00:32:48 - Creative AI Workflows You Haven't Thought Of Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and workflows. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| Are AI Agents Ready for the Internet? (ft Bobbie Chen) | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:46:01 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Are you ready for AI agents to browse the web? We explore the future of AI agent authentication, web security, and API design in this deep dive. As AI agents proliferate, critical questions arise: how do we handle security without giving an agent your password? How can we make websites optimized for agent consumption? We're joined by Bobbie Chen, a product manager at Stytch specializing in bot and AI agent detection, to discuss the risks and opportunities. We cover how OAuth can provide safer, scoped permissions for agents, and the emerging open standard Web Bot Auth, which allows agents to cryptographically prove their identity. Bobbie breaks down Simon Willison's "lethal trifecta" of AI security risks and discusses strategies for mitigating malicious behavior. We also touch on the future of AI SEO, how API design must evolve for a hybrid human-agent world, and the potential impact of agents on web monetization and advertising. Learn more from Bobbie Chen: Stytch supports Web Bot Auth: https://stytch.com/blog/stytch-supports-web-bot-auth Stytch Connected Apps (OAuth for AI agents): https://stytch.com/connected-apps Stytch Fraud and Risk Prevention: stytch.com/fraud AGI Builders Meetup: https://luma.com/agibuilders IsAgent SDK for agent identification: https://IsAgent.dev Additional Resources from the episode: Simon Willison's lethal trifecta: https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/16/the-lethal-trifecta IETF Web Bot Auth: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/bofreq-nottingham-web-bot-auth/ Jon Postel as "benevolent dictator" of IANA: http://memex.org/meme4-01.html Freestyle Cloud: https://www.freestyle.sh Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:25 - The Risks of AI Agents Browsing the Web 00:07:14 - A Bot Registry vs. Open Protocols 00:18:04 - How AI Will Change Web Monetization & Ads 00:35:03 - The "Lethal Trifecta" of AI Security 00:41:25 - Practical Advice for Website Owners & Agent Devs Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI security. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| Advanced AI Prompting (ft Michael Tiffany & Ty Fiero) | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:49:46 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Master advanced prompting techniques and meta prompting in this deep dive into AI context engineering. As AI models evolve, the way we interact with them becomes more critical than ever. Prompting is no longer about simple questions; it's a skill that separates mediocre results from magical ones. In Episode 57, we're joined by Michael Tiffany, founder and CEO of Fulcra, and AI consultant Ty Fiero to explore the strategies that unlock an AI's full potential. Discover why prompts are more important than ever, how to tailor your requests for specific models like GPT-5 and Claude, and why a "high agency" attitude is the key to getting great outputs. We discuss practical methods like iterative prompting, using one AI to critique another's work, and asking the model itself how to create the perfect prompt. Learn how to avoid AI sycophancy, the power of multimodal prompting with images, and how to right-size tasks for complex projects. Whether you're a developer using vibe coding or just want to get better answers from ChatGPT, this conversation will change how you talk to AI. Guests: Michael Tiffany, Founder and CEO of Fulcra https://www.fulcra.ai https://x.com/kubla Ty Fiero, AI Consultant https://x.com/FieroTy Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/kubla https://x.com/FieroTy 00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:02 - The High-Agency Prompting Mindset 00:10:36 - Techniques for Reducing AI Bias 00:19:10 - Meta-Prompting: Having AI Write Your Prompts 00:23:12 - How to Build Prompting Intuition 00:30:00 - AI for Spec-Driven Development Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and prompting. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| Build A Full Stack App With One Prompt (ft. Richard Abrich) | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:50:25 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Build full-stack apps from a single prompt with Fastable, the revolutionary AI tool from AI consultant Richard Abrich. In this episode, we dive deep into how you can go from an idea to a deployed web application using AI, and learn how Richard built the tool to accelerate his own development workflows. Richard shares his expert approach to context engineering, hallucination mitigation, and creating a powerful feedback loop by piping logs directly into the AI agent to debug and iterate faster than ever. We explore Fastable's tech stack (FastAPI, Python, React, Postgres) and how it offers a more flexible, vanilla alternative to tools like Lovable, giving developers the control they need. If you're interested in AI-powered development, the future of disposable software, or building your own tools to solve real problems, this is a conversation you can't miss. Try Fastable for yourself: https://fastable.dev Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/abrichr 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:57 - Fastable's Tech Stack vs Lovable 00:07:33 - Context Engineering for Non-Technical Users 00:17:32 - Fastable Demo 00:31:08 - Mitigating AI Hallucination 00:45:53 - The Future of Disposable Software Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI development. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| How I Use AI for REAL Productivity Gains | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:38:20 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock massive productivity gains with AI and get hours of your life back. In Episode 55, after 10 years as a software developer with the last three focused on AI, I'm sharing the secrets to my personal productivity system. Learn how to leverage multiple LLMs, build a "digital brain" with Obsidian that goes beyond a simple second brain, and create hyper-custom automations to focus on what truly matters. I'll walk you through my complete setup, from the AI models I use daily (like Claude and local models) to the hardware and software I use to interface with my computer, including powerful voice transcription workflows. We'll cover how to use AI coding assistants to build your own scripts, essential terminal utilities that will speed up your workflow, and the specific media tools I use for tasks outside my expertise. This is the ultimate guide to leveling up your productivity with AI. Mike's GitHub: https://github.com/MikeBirdTech Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/ Mike's Stack: https://github.com/MikeBirdTech/stack Dataview Plugin: https://obsidian.md/plugins?id=dataview Connect with me https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:52 - Which LLM Should You Use? 00:04:17 - How to Build a "Digital Brain" in Obsidian 00:12:40 - Voice Transcription: The Biggest Productivity Unlock 00:17:59 - Building Custom Automations with AI Coding 00:32:06 - Using AI as a Thought Partner Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and automation. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| Fundamentals of AI Tooling (ft Hai Nghiem) | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:54:14 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Feeling intimidated by AI tooling? This is the perfect place to start. Join us for a deep dive into AI agent fundamentals with expert educator Hai Ngheim. We break down complex topics like context engineering, explaining why it's a more useful term than prompt engineering. Learn the key differences between an AI Agent and a workflow, and discover when to use each for maximum efficiency. We demystify Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), explaining why it’s fundamentally a search problem, not just a vector database issue. Explore the future of AI interoperability with the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the "USB-C for agents" , and see how it simplifies building with AI. For those intimidated by the command line, we offer tips on getting started with powerful tools like Claude Code. This episode covers the fundamentals of deep research , browser-use agents , and what makes a "deep agent" capable of producing high-value output. If you've heard these buzzwords online , this is the explanation you've been waiting for to help you integrate these powerful AI tools into your life. Guest Links: Check out Hai's Agent Engineering Bootcamp: https://maven.com/agent-lab/agent-engineering-bootcamp Check out AGI Ventures Canada on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-beginning-hai-nghiem-swnsc/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/haithehuman 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:05 - Context Engineering vs Prompt Engineering 00:03:36 - AI Agents vs Workflows 00:20:56 - MCP (Model Context Protocol) Explained 00:29:58 - Getting Started with Claude Code 00:38:49 - The Power of Browser-Based AI Agents 00:48:50 - What Are Deep Agents? Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI Agents. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| Why Open Source AI Will Win (ft Alignment Lab) | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:43:04 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Open Source AI is key to a positive future for humanity, and Alignment Lab AI is building the tools to make it accessible to everyone. In a world where a few big tech companies control the most powerful "black box" AI models, concerns about data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and entrenched power are growing. This episode explores the alternative: a future of decentralized, user-owned AI. We're joined by Austin Cook, Chris Hardwick, and Jordan Parker from Alignment Lab AI to discuss their mission to democratize AI through radical transparency and distributed ownership. Discover how open source AI empowers you to control your own data, run powerful models locally on your own hardware, and create truly personalized AI assistants. We get into why specialized open source models can outperform giant frontier models for specific tasks, the importance of owning your compute, and how you can get started with your own local AI lab. Learn more about Alignment Lab AI: https://www.alignmentlab.ai/ https://discord.gg/r7NaHJZxCR https://x.com/alignment_lab Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/alignment_lab 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:52 - What is AI Alignment? 00:07:05 - Can Open Source AI Compete with Frontier Models? 00:10:46 - The Dangers of AI and Your Data Privacy 00:25:13 - What You Can Do With a Home AI Lab 00:32:01 - The Future of Personalized AI Assistants 00:35:51 - How to Help the Open Source AI Movement Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and Open Source AI. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| Advanced Claude Code (ft Ray Fernando and Eric Buess) | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:47:58 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock the full potential of Claude Code! Most people are only using a fraction of its capabilities. In this Claude Code masterclass, AI coding experts Ray Fernando (former Apple engineer) and Eric Buess (Anthropic super fan) reveal the secrets to maximizing your productivity with one of the most powerful AI coding tools available. Learn how the pros are using Claude Code, from optimal setup and advanced context management techniques to leveraging powerful features like sub-agents, hooks, and slash commands. Discover the benefits of different thinking modes, how to avoid common pitfalls like context rot, and build reliable workflows that get the job done. Every Claude Code user will learn something new in this video. Guest: Ray Fernando Twitter: https://x.com/RayFernando1337 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCq_MHfMX5FBBB3bqnJPAEzA Website: https://raytranscribes.com/ Guest: Eric Buess Twitter: https://x.com/EricBuess Claude Code Docs Repo: https://github.com/ericbuess/claude-code-docs Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/RayFernando1337 https://x.com/EricBuess 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:37 - Optimal Claude Code Setup 00:05:07 - YOLO Mode: Dangerously Skip Permissions 00:07:07 - Thinking Modes & Context Management 00:15:52 - Hook Workflow 00:23:47 - Hooks vs. Slash Commands 00:30:32 - How the Pros Use Sub-Agents Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI coding. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive. | |||
| How to Build Secure MCP Servers (ft Craig McLuckie) | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:55:20 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock the secrets of secure AI development in this episode of Tool Use! We're joined by Craig McLuckie, the co-creator of Kubernetes and the Co-Founder and CEO of StackLok, to dive deep into the world of MCPs and the future of AI infrastructure. As AI agents and the MCPs become more widespread, ensuring the security and reliability of these systems is paramount. Craig discusses the critical need for hardened and secure MCP servers to prevent risks like data exfiltration and the creation of backdoors. Discover how ToolHive, developed by StackLok, is solving these challenges by providing a registry of trusted, curated MCP servers. We explore how ToolHive helps developers by offering a standardized toolkit of reliable tools, simplifying integration, and managing security concerns like secret protection and network isolation. Craig shares his insights on best practices for developing secure MCP servers, the importance of community-driven development, and the future of authentication and authorization in agentic systems. Learn about the shift from a platform engineering to a solutions engineering mindset and why you need to embrace an experimental approach to thrive in the new AI age. StackLok: https://stacklok.com/ ToolHive: https://toolhive.dev/ Stacklok Discord: https://discord.gg/Uhz3VshErv Craig's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigmcluckie/ Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/cmcluck 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:35 - What is ToolHive? 00:06:21 - How ToolHive Helps Developers in Production 00:13:13 - How the Community Guides the ToolHive Roadmap 00:22:03 - Gaps in Current AI Infrastructure 00:31:26 - Will API Keys Survive the AI Age? 00:47:18 - A New Mindset for Thriving in AI Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and security. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by Stacklok | |||
| The Best AI Advice for 2025 | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:58:27 | |
Unlock the future of AI tools, context engineering, and practical AI development in this special Episode 50 of Tool Use! We celebrate one year of weekly conversations by bringing back two dozen of the brightest minds in the AI space to share their most valuable lessons and predictions. Dive deep into the evolution from prompt engineering to context engineering, and learn how to master large language models (LLMs) and AI agents for maximum productivity and impact. In this can't-miss episode, we explore the biggest takeaways from a revolutionary year in AI. Discover the power of reasoning models, the rapid advancement of local models, and the rise of multi-agent systems. Our expert guests, including entrepreneurs, researchers, and builders, discuss the critical importance of mindset, staying curious, and the human element in the age of AI. Learn practical strategies for building with AI, from owning your control flow and creating effective feedback loops to leveraging "vibe coding" and knowing when to use deterministic code versus fuzzy LLM functions. Explore the latest in AI tooling and workflows, from using WhatsApp as a universal interface to the best practices for evals, tracing, and context management. Hear predictions on the future of AI, including the path to zero-cost intelligence, the rise of home robotics, and the solution to model orchestration. Whether you're a developer, entrepreneur, or just passionate about leveraging AI, this episode is packed with insights to help you stay ahead in this rapidly accelerating industry. Join us as we discuss how to build for the future, augment human capabilities, and democratize the benefits of AI. Find out why the top 1% of builders approach AI differently and how you can apply their principles to your own projects. Thank you for an incredible year! To support the show and help us bring on more amazing guests, please like, share, and subscribe. 12 Factor Agents - https://github.com/humanlayer/12-factor-agents 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:05 Ty Fiero - Model Advances 00:04:21 Context Engineering 00:05:49 Ryan Carson - Obsess about context 00:06:23 Richard Abrich - Garbage in, garbage out 00:08:23 Michael Tiffany - More Metaprompt 00:09:13 Mindset 00:12:04 Dexter Horthy - Keep doing the hardest thing 00:15:22 Diamond Bishop - Change is the only constant 00:17:53 Dillion Verma - Build around AI 00:19:30 Freddie Vargus - Don't believe the magic 00:20:49 Wolfram Ravenwolf - Curiosity, motivation, and skepticism 00:22:13 Jake Koenig - Most things you learned are obsolete 00:23:19 Sarah Allali - Know the outcome your expecting 00:24:29 Practical Development and Tooling 00:27:12 Francisco Ingham - WhatsApp and leveraging humans with LLMs 00:30:27 Minki Jung - Standardized evals, tracing, context management 00:32:16 Hai Nghiem - Don't be too smart 00:35:02 Jason McGhee - Three camps of AI tool use 00:38:38 Olga Beregovaya - Right model for the job 00:40:01 Orlando Kalossakas - Prompting is vital 00:40:48 The Human Element 00:43:20 CJ Pais - AI to empower creatives 00:45:05 Kirk Marple - Play with vibe coding 00:47:17 David Cross - Think about the people first 00:48:13 Adam Cohen Hillel - Humans are the bottleneck 00:49:22 Aaron Wong-Ellis - Talk to your customers 00:50:34 Ian Pilon - What is agency? 00:51:56 Future Predictions 00:54:41 Thank you Please follow our incredible guests: https://x.com/FieroTy https://x.com/ryancarson https://x.com/abrichr https://x.com/kubla https://x.com/dexhorthy https://x.com/diamondbishop https://x.com/dillionverma https://x.com/freddie_v4 https://x.com/WolframRvnwlf https://x.com/ja3k_ https://x.com/SarahAllali7 https://x.com/fpingham https://x.com/JungMinki7 https://x.com/haithehuman https://x.com/_jason_today https://x.com/sunglassesface https://x.com/cj_pais https://x.com/KirkMarple https://x.com/adamcohenhillel https://x.com/aaronwongellis https://x.com/IanTimotheos (and me too) https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech | |||
| He's Building a Startup With AI (ft Ryan Carson) | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:45:04 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock massive productivity with AI and learn to code faster than ever. In this episode, 3x exited founder Ryan Carson shares how he's building a one-person startup with AI. Ryan reveals his revolutionary three-part workflow for managing AI developers in Cursor, a system that has supercharged his output. We dive deep into the best AI tools for coding and productivity like Cursor, ChatGPT, and AI agents, and how to use them to go from idea to execution. Ryan also offers invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on how to leverage AI for business logistics, finance, HR, and even founder therapy. Learn the skills and mindset needed to become a successful solo founder in today's AI-driven world. Follow Ryan Carson: https://x.com/ryancarson https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancarson/ Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/ryancarson 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:35 - How to Use Cursor for AI Development 00:10:37 - Ryan's 3-Part AI Agent Workflow 00:15:38 - Managing AI Context Drift & Hallucinations 00:35:52 - How to Build a 1-Person, AI-Powered Company 00:41:57 - Advice For Aspiring Solo Founders Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and startups. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| The AI Playbook Used By Global Companies (ft Olga Beregovaya) | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:42:00 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock the secrets to scaling your business globally with powerful AI workflows that can slash costs by up to 80%. In this episode, we're joined by Olga Beregovaya, the VP of AI at Smartling, a world leader in AI-powered translation. Olga shares her 25 years of experience in language technology, from the origins of NLP to the omnipresent A.I. 2.0 era we live in today. Discover Smartling's internal strategies for deploying AI across their entire organization, including how they leverage AI for lead generation, software development, and enhancing translator productivity. Olga dives deep into the "build vs. buy" debate for AI tools, the critical importance of creating a "golden dataset" for benchmarking models, and how to safely deploy AI at an enterprise scale without introducing latency or hallucinations. Learn about the future of work and the skills you need to thrive—like shifting from a translator to a "multilingual prompt engineer"—and how to develop an AI literacy that will be essential in any field. Keep up with Olga and Smartling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-beregovaya-04b5/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartling/ Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us: https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:47 - How Smartling Adopts AI as a Global Company 00:10:50 - The Build vs. Buy AI Tool Debate 00:19:17 - How to Deploy AI Systems at a Global Scale 00:31:26 - How Industries Can Survive The AI Wave 00:34:33 - The Most Valuable Skills For an AI Future Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and A.I. deployment. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts. | |||
| How To Make AI Content That Feels Human (ft David Cross) | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:44:42 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX David Cross reveals his step-by-step process for generating emotionally resonant AI content that avoids the uncanny valley. Discover the AI tools and strategies to build your own content factory, including using a custom GPT for scripts , ElevenLabs for realistic AI voice generation , and Midjourney for unique, hand-created style artwork. David breaks down his method for iterating on AI output, the importance of a human-in-the-loop to ensure quality , and how to use AI to create multilingual content for a global audience. This is your guide to leveling up your AI content and making something that truly connects with people. Connect with David Cross: Website: https://davidcross.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssorcdivad/ Kids Chatterbox Project: http://kidschatterbox.com/ Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:38 - The AI Content Creation Workflow 00:15:22 - Cost And Time For An AI Podcast 00:18:38 - How To Take AI Content From Good To Great 00:28:18 - Making Your AI Content Multilingual 00:40:38 - Advice for Marketers in the AI Age Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and creativity. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| How Businesses Can Adopt AI Today (ft Wolfram Ravenwolf) | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:49:08 | |
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Explore the future of business efficiency with AI agents and cutting-edge DevSecOps strategies as Wolfram RavenWolf, AI Evangelist at EllaMind, joins us to demystify practical AI. Wolfram shares invaluable insights on integrating robust, fair, and effective AI systems into your organization. Learn why AI is humanity's most transformative technology, how to navigate common misconceptions, and the critical role of continuous evaluation and a "virtual coworker" mindset in harnessing its full potential. Discover actionable tips for deploying local AI, optimizing models through prompt engineering, and fostering an "AI affinity" culture that empowers your team to unlock unprecedented productivity and innovation. Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/WolframRvnwlf 00:00:00 - intro 00:03:21 - Common AI Misconceptions for Businesses 00:06:32 - Low-Hanging Fruit for AI Adoption 00:11:24 - How to Evaluate & Select an LLM 00:25:51 - Hardware & Hosting for Local AI Models 00:47:04 - Promoting AI Adoption within Companies Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and the future of AI. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| The Blueprint For AI Agents That Work (ft Diamond Bishop) | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:36:47 | |
Master the art of building AI agents and powerful AI teammates with Diamond Bishop, Director of Engineering and AI at Datadog. In this deep dive, we explore crucial strategies for creating self-improving agent systems, from establishing robust evaluations (evals) and observability to designing effective human-in-the-loop escape hatches. Learn the secrets to building user trust, deciding between prompt engineering and fine-tuning, and managing data sets for peak performance. Diamond shares his expert insights on architecting agents, using LLM as a judge for quality control, and the future of ambient AI in DevSecOps. If you're looking to build your own AI assistant, this episode provides the essential principles and practical advice you need to get started and create systems that learn and improve over time. Guest: Diamond Bishop, Director of Engineering and AI at Datadog Learn more about Bits AI SRE: https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/bits-ai-sre/ Datadog MCP Server for Agents: https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/datadog-remote-mcp-server/ Sign up for A.I. coaching for professionals at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/diamondbishop 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:55 - When To Use an Agent vs a Script 00:05:44 - How to Architect an AI Agent 00:08:07 - Prompt Engineering vs Fine-Tuning 00:11:29 - Building Your First Eval Suite 00:26:06 - The Unsolved Problem in Agent Building 00:31:10 - The Future of Local AI Models & Privacy Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and agents. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| The Right Way to Do AI Evals (ft Freddie Vargus) | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:55:15 | |
Are your AI agents unreliable? In this guide, we reveal a professional system for AI evals to help you build and ship better AI products, faster. Learn how to systematically test LLM performance, evaluate complex tool use, and improve multi-turn conversations. We break down the exact process for building a high-quality eval dataset, using milestones and minefields to track agent behaviour, and how to properly use an LLM as a judge without compromising quality. Stop guessing and start making real, measurable improvements to your AI today. Check out Quotient AI https://www.quotientai.co/ Sign up for A.I. coaching for professionals at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/freddie_v4 00:00:00 - intro 00:02:54 - Why You Need AI Evals 00:06:13 - How to Evaluate AI Agent Tool Use 00:29:24 - The Process for Building Your First Eval Dataset 00:42:44 - Using an LLM as a Judge The Right Way Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI evals. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| Use AI to Catch Your Bad Leadership Habits (ft Ian Pilon) | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:51:58 | |
Sign up for A.I. coaching for professionals at: https://www.anetic.co Unlock the secrets of better communication with AI! In this episode, we explore how to use AI for leadership development, enhance your communication skills, and improve user experience (UX) with AI tools. Innovator and author Ian Pilon (Cultivating Clarity) joins us to discuss the future of human-computer interaction beyond the simple chatbot. Learn how to leverage AI as a sparring partner, analyze your subconscious behaviors to become a more effective leader, and use contextual intelligence to get more from your prompts. We cover everything from building AI agents and organizing communities to the practical strategies for using large language models (LLMs) to overcome the blank page problem and prepare for difficult conversations. Learn more about Ian Pilon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianpilon/ Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/IanTimotheos 00:00:00 - intro 00:01:09 - How Logistics & UX Inform AI Development 00:05:42 - The Future of UX in a World of AI 00:18:02 - Using AI as a Mirror for Better Leadership 00:33:43 - Sparring with AI: Role-Playing for Difficult Conversations 00:36:59 - The Power of Contextual Intelligence in AI 00:46:02 - How to Build a Local AI Community Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and communication. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| Your Everyday Data Holds Life Changing Secrets (ft Michael Tiffany) | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:51:02 | |
Sign up for A.I. coaching for professionals at: https://www.anetic.co Unlock the power of your personal data with AI! This episode explores how AI can become your guardian angel for wellbeing, helping anticipate your needs by understanding your unique data. Michael Tiffany, CEO of Fulcra, joins us to discuss building trustworthy AI systems for sensitive human information, the importance of data sovereignty, and how platforms like Fulcra are de-siloing data from wearables like Apple Watch and Oura Ring. Discover insights on sleep optimization, unique data correlations, the future of agentic AI, and the critical need for individual control over personal data in an AI-driven world. We delve into data privacy, the potential of personalized recommendation algorithms, and how to ensure AI empowers rather than creates dependency. Learn more about Fulcra: https://www.fulcradynamics.com/ https://discord.gg/pwvzFDTr87 Join the world's largest privacy-preserving sleep study: https://www.fulcradynamics.com/studies/how-the-world-sleeps Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/kubla 00:00:00 - Will AI be your guardian angel? 00:00:42 - From Hacking to AI: Michael Tiffany's Journey & Fulcra's Data Sovereignty Mission 00:04:08 - Uncovering Hidden Insights: Apple Watch Noise & Sleep, Unique User Data Correlations 00:08:50 - Sleep Optimization Deep Dive: Tracking with Wearables, Supplements & Carb Timing 00:18:33 - Building Trustworthy AI: Data Privacy, User Control & Processing Sensitive Information 00:32:28 - The Future of Personal Data Monetization: Skepticism & Trading Data for Better UX 00:46:48 - AI Dependency vs. Empowering User Agency: Who Truly Benefits from Hyper-Optimization? Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and Data Sovereignty. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| The Best Developer Experience For Building A.I. Agents (ft Ahmad Awais) | 27 May 2025 | 00:53:39 | |
Unlock the secrets to world-class developer experience for AI agents! Discover how to build powerful, reliable AI agents with Ahmad Awais, founder and CEO of Lang Base, a serverless platform revolutionizing AI development. We dive deep into overcoming complex tooling and steep learning curves, exploring AI primitives, and the groundbreaking AI coding agent, Chai, which builds other AI agents for you. Learn about agentic RAG, memory agents, scaling agent workflows, and the future of AI agent creation. Ahmad shares his journey from open-source contributor to AI innovator, and how Lang Base and Chai are tearing down barriers to innovation in the AI space. If you're building, designing, or dreaming of the next generation of AI, this episode is essential viewing. Lang Base: https://langbase.com/ Chai: https://chai.new/ Sign up for A.I. coaching for professionals at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/MrAhmadAwais 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:46 - Ahmad Awais' Journey into AI & Open Source 00:09:03 - Deep Dive: Lang Base Chai - AI Agent Builder Explained 00:33:45 - Most Compelling AI Agents Built with Lang Base & Chai 00:36:32 - Principles for Great Developer Experience (DevEx) in AI Tooling 00:45:49 - Tools & Advice for Advanced AI Agent Development (ft. MCP) 00:51:04 - Bonus: Ahmad's Open Source Code on Mars with NASA Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI agents. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| Use AI To Build Your Own Tools (ft Manuel Odendahl) | 20 May 2025 | 01:03:05 | |
Unlock the power of AI development and learn to build your own custom AI tools! In this episode, we dive deep into AI coding strategies with AI engineer Manuel Odendahl. Discover practical approaches to identify opportunities, leverage existing services like Cursor, Gemini, and Sonnet, and craft bespoke software solutions tailored precisely to your unique challenges. Whether you're a developer aiming to expand your toolkit or someone with a problem needing a fix, we teach the mindset and methods to build AI-powered tools yourself, solving those nagging day-to-day problems. Forget waiting for solutions; learn to create them with AI and transform your workflow, moving from detailed coding to high-level ideation and automation. Sign up for A.I. coaching for professionals at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools Connect with us 00:00:00 intro Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and automation. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| Why AI Agents Fail In Production And How To Fix It (ft Josh Purtell) | 13 May 2025 | 00:48:20 | |
Unlock the reality of AI agents in production! While the AI agent gold rush is on, many businesses and developers struggle to move beyond expectation. This episode dives deep into the three fundamental challenges of AI agents: observability, reliability, and performance. Discover actionable strategies to overcome these hurdles and deploy your AI agent to production with confidence. Learn how to effectively communicate your needs to your AI, avoid common pitfalls like context window overload, and implement effective AI agent evals and debugging processes. We explore building high-value vs. low-value agents, structuring prompts for clarity, and the future of interacting with these powerful AI tools. If you're building or considering AI agents, this conversation is packed with insights on making them truly work. Learn more about Synth: https://www.usesynth.ai/ Sign up for A.I. coaching for professionals at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/JoshPurtell 00:00:00 - intro 00:04:28 - Current & Upcoming Viable AI Agent Use Cases 00:08:11 - Common Pitfalls When Building AI Agents 00:13:32 - Strategies for Debugging Bad LLM Calls 00:21:46 - Enhancing AI Agent Observability 00:33:22 - AI Tooling: Build vs Buy Decision 00:38:51 - Choosing the Right LLM for Your Agent Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI agents. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| How To Turn Text Into Amazing Music (ft Phlo) | 06 May 2025 | 00:54:13 | |
Unlock the secrets of AI music generation and learn how to turn a prompt into incredible songs! Discover groundbreaking AI tools that empower you to create incredible songs from simple text prompts. From Suno, to Udio, to Riffusion, we'll show you how AI is revolutionizing music creation, making it easier than ever to produce unique tracks. Generate Custom Songs For Any Occasion In Seconds – no musical experience needed! Dive into the future of music production and start making your own AI-generated masterpieces today. This guide explores the best AI music creators and text-to-music platforms. Get Phlo's resources https://aietalk.com/music Get your free curated AI report from Anetic Daily Intelligence Sign up at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/YoungPhlo_ 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:46 - Phlo's Journey into AI Music & Python Automation 00:03:12 - The Evolution of AI Music Generation: ChatGPT Moment for Music? 00:08:24 - Comparing AI Music Tools: Suno vs. Udio vs. Riffusion 00:12:47 - Creative Control & Unique Features in AI Music Generation Tools 00:20:12 - Live Demo: Crafting an AI Song with Suno & Prompting Techniques 00:45:45 - Phlo's AI Music Resources, Workshop Materials & Further Learning Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI music. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| How The Best Product Managers Use AI (ft Elina Lesyk) | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:46:30 | |
Is traditional AI Product Management becoming obsolete? Elina Lesyk, AI consultant and host of the AI Ketchup podcast, joins Tool Use to explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping the product management workflow. We dive into the necessary technical skills for AI PMs, whether AI prototyping tools like Bolt and V0 are replacing classic methods, essential AI UX design principles, and the core skills defining effective AI product leaders. Discover common AI implementation pitfalls, strategies for gathering user feedback for AI products, and how to identify promising AI use cases without forcing the tech. Essential insights for product managers, builders, and anyone navigating the AI shift in building products. Connect with Elina Lesyk: AI Ketchup Podcast: https://pod.elinalesyk.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elina-lesyk Get your free curated AI report from Anetic Daily Intelligence Sign up at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/ELesyk 00:00:00 - Intro 00:07:55 - How Technical Do AI Product Managers Need to Be? 00:13:14 - AI Tools & Feedback Loops for Product Managers 00:23:39 - How AI is Changing Prototyping (Bolt, V0, Low-Code) 00:25:36 - Safety & Pitfalls in AI Implementation 00:31:08 - Designing AI User Interactions & Experience 00:41:21 - Identifying Promising AI Use Cases Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and product management. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| Google Scientist's Insights on AI Education & Tools (ft Dr Stefania Druga) | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:44:14 | |
Master AI education and boost AI literacy with insights from Dr. Stefania Druga, Google Gemini research scientist and creator of Cognimates. Explore how to use AI to learn about AI, effective strategies for teaching AI concepts to kids and adults, and the crucial role of hands-on tinkering. We discuss overcoming learning barriers, designing AI tools that augment creativity without stifling imagination (like smart toys vs. real-world learning), the nuances of anthropomorphizing AI, and the future of multimodal AI applications in education and beyond. Learn why user observation and custom eval sets are vital for building truly useful AI tools. Learn more about Cognimates: http://cognimates.me Dr. Stefania Druga's Publications: https://stefania11.github.io/publications/ Watch Stefania's AI Engineer Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySYLsoAhXmg Get your free curated AI report from Anetic Daily Intelligence Sign up at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/Stefania_druga 00:00:00 - intro 00:02:40 - Barriers and Perception in AI Learning 00:06:00 - AI Learning Differences: Adults vs. Kids 00:10:37 - AI Literacy for Non-Tinkerers 00:14:31 - The Impact of Anthropomorphizing AI 00:23:37 - Principles for Building Creative AI Tools 00:33:05 - Common Misconceptions in Building AI Tools 00:42:41 - Core Principle for AI Entrepreneurs: Observe Your Users Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI education. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||
| The Henry Ford Approach To Building Modern AI (ft Minki Jung) | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:50:39 | |
Flow engineering, AI workflows, and intelligent automation strategies for developers and AI builders. In this episode of Tool Use, we explore how orchestrating multiple AI steps transforms complex systems beyond simple prompt engineering. Learn why most AI builders focus too much on crafting perfect prompts when real-world applications demand intelligent workflows. Discover Minki Jung's practical advice on decomposing tasks, designing ergonomic prompts, and building AI systems that actually work. Key topics covered: - How to think about AI workflows like Henry Ford's assembly line - The difference between prompt engineering and flow engineering - Practical techniques for decomposing complex AI tasks - When to use LLMs vs. traditional programming in your workflow - How to create memory and judgment within AI systems - Tips for testing and evaluating AI workflows Whether you're building AI content systems, tools, assistants, or decision engines, this episode will completely change how you approach AI architecture. Get your free curated AI report from Anetic Daily Intelligence Sign up at: https://www.anetic.co Get FREE AI tools pip install tool-use-ai Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/FieroTy https://x.com/JungMinki7 00:00:00 intro 00:02:20 - What is Flow Engineering? 00:03:41 - Workflows vs Autonomous Agents 00:06:46 - The Henry Ford Approach to Workflows 00:10:26 - How to Decompose AI Tasks (7 Steps) 00:16:38 - Choosing the Right LLM for Each Step 00:21:44 - Pro Tips for Prompt Engineering 00:27:46 - Learning AI & Avoiding Hype (Focus!) Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and building tips. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with AI experts brought to you by Anetic. | |||