The Pieces AI productivity podcast

Building a chatbot over everything, with Jasmine Robinson, Senior TPM for GenAI at Netflix

Welcome to the Pieces AI productivity podcast, where we dig into how experts use AI to be more productive, as well as geeking out in general on different AI topics. 📽️ In this episode, Jim is joined by Jasmine Robinson, a Senior TPM for GenAI at Netflix, and a self-confessed AI fangirl. Jasmine talks in depth about why she’s so bullish about AI, from discovering tools like ChatGPT and GitHub copilot 2 years ago, to leading the charge to get these tools established in the Netflix developer workflows. She talks about the way she uses AI to boost her productivity, with it automating the boring tasks. She also has analyzed the developers she works with and has categorized them by their feeling towards AI. Jasmine also talks about how chatbots can change the way we interact with media like this podcast, books, meetings and more, as well as concluding that AI won’t replace software developers any time soon because the AI companies are still hiring! 🌐 Links: Connect with Jasmin on LinkedIn [⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazrobinson/⁠] Jasmine’s blog [https://jazmy.com/⁠] GenAI secret sauce [https://genaisecretsauce.com/⁠] 👉 Try Pieces for free: ⁠⁠https://pieces.app⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/] 💡 Learn more about Pieces features: ⁠⁠https://pieces.app/features⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/features] Connect with Pieces: X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/getpieces⁠⁠ [https://x.com/getpieces] Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social] LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/] Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/] Discord: ⁠⁠https://pieces.app/discord⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/discord] In this episode: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:02:56 - Why Jasmine is so excited about AI 0:03:36 - Developers are safe from AI as OpenAI and Anthropic are still hiring 0:05:31 - Automating knowledge mining with AI from meetings or websites 0:17:36 - LARPing through books with AI generated chat or game experiences 0:20:32 - Using AI to practice difficult conversations 0:25:44 - AI is democratizing development, especially to help vibe coders 0:29:44 - AI to help developer education, and it’s not just Clippy! 0:32:46 - What percentage of developers are pro vs anti AI and to what level 0:46:36 - What would Jasmine do if she could automate everything?

Humans and AI living in harmony, with Jen Fox, Human-AI Interaction, Microsoft

Welcome to the Pieces AI productivity podcast, where we dig into how experts use AI to be more productive, as well as geeking out in general on different AI topics. 🧠 🤖 In todays episode, Jim is joined by Jen Fox, who works on Human-AI interaction at Microsoft. Jen gives an overview of her backstory in particle physics, and why she loves being an educator. Jen then talks about the Core AI team at Microsoft, how to consolidate enthusiasm for AI with a passion for stopping climate change. Finally Jen teaches Jim all about the work she’s doing on human-AI interaction, diving into what jobs AI can do, and what jobs humans should do as caretakers, along with how AI helps under-resourced folks scale quickly. 🌐 Links: Connect with Jen on LinkedIn [⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenfoxbot/⁠] Follow Jen on Bluesky [⁠https://bsky.app/profile/jenfoxbot.bsky.social⁠] Follow Jen on Instagram [⁠https://www.instagram.com/jenfoxbot/⁠] Buy Jen’s book on breadboarding [⁠https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4842-9218-1⁠] Watch Jen’s content on YouTube [⁠https://www.youtube.com/@JenFoxBot⁠] Jen’s projects on Hackster [https://www.hackster.io/jenfoxbot⁠] 👉 Try Pieces for free: ⁠https://pieces.app⁠ [https://pieces.app/] 💡 Learn more about Pieces features: ⁠https://pieces.app/features⁠ [https://pieces.app/features] Connect with Pieces: X: ⁠https://x.com/getpieces⁠ [https://x.com/getpieces] Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social] LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/] Discord: ⁠https://pieces.app/discord⁠ [https://pieces.app/discord] In this episode: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:54 - Jen’s back story and why she loves educating folks 0:05:36 - The Core AI team at Microsoft 0:07:12 - AI, climate change, and how tech companies are turning to nuclear 0:13:51 - Human AI interaction, and how AI unlocks different ways to interact with a computer 0:23:20 - Can AI replace human empathy? 0:31:20 - How AI can help under-resourced groups by enabling scale 0:38:43 - Humans as caretakers, and what humans can do that AI cannot

Using AI to counter disinformation, with Jerome Hardaway, Director of Youth Engagement & Counter-Disinformation at Civic Influencers

Welcome to the Pieces AI productivity podcast, where we dig into how experts use AI to be more productive, as well as geeking out in general on different AI topics. ⚖️ In todays episode, Jim talks to Jerome Hardaway, director of youth engagement and counter-disinformation at Civic Influencers. Jerome is using a range of AI tools to detect mis- and disinformation in online content, and help young people in the 18-29 demographic get access to factual information to help them make informed choices as they engage with politics, rather than follow the opinions of influencers who may be intentionally spreading disinformation. Jerome discusses how young people get their information and viewpoints from social media, rather than traditional news sources, trusting people due to having similar tastes in food, clothing, or technology, rather than trusting more reputable sources and doing factual research. Jerome talks about how he uses AI to sport patterns, and literally sees trends in data spiking from events in popular culture, such as how an episode of love is blind can cause young people to discuss if it is ok to lie to a partner about who you are. 🌐 Links: Connect with Jerome on LinkedIn [⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromehardaway/⁠] Follow Jerome on Bluesky [⁠https://bsky.app/profile/jeromehardaway.bsky.social] Civic Influencers [https://www.civicinfluencers.org/⁠] Vets who code [https://vetswhocode.io/⁠] 👉 Try Pieces for free: ⁠https://pieces.app⁠ [https://pieces.app/] 💡 Learn more about Pieces features: ⁠https://pieces.app/features⁠ [https://pieces.app/features] Connect with Pieces: X: ⁠https://x.com/getpieces⁠ [https://x.com/getpieces] Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social] LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/] Discord: ⁠https://pieces.app/discord⁠ [https://pieces.app/discord] In this episode: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:29 - Misinformation and Disinformation on social media 0:08:21 - Can AI understand the language used by youth cultures? 0:10:29 - How ad data from TikTok is better than research data 0:13:59 - Influencers blame their audiences for not doing research, and are happy to spread disinformation for money 0:16:38 - Using psy-ops techniques from the CIA to influence people 0:22:51 - Youth trusts social media rather than doing basic research 0:29:13 - Analyzing viewpoints on acceptable behaviors based off Love is Blind and toxic masculinity 0:41:18 - How to bring factual information to social media through overlays or empowering influencers 0:52:14 - To spread trust, you need human interaction 0:57:38 - What is ‘truth’? 1:03:53 - Data tells the story of truth, such as racial discrimination in the US Marine Corps via rules on shaving

Investing in AI, with Amir Shevat, Early stage startup investor, author

Welcome to the Pieces AI productivity podcast, where we dig into how experts use AI to be more productive, as well as geeking out in general on different AI topics. 💰 In todays Episode, Jim talks to Amir Shevat, an early stage startup investor at Darkmode Ventures, an investor in companies like Bluesky, Tessl, and Daytona. Amir has a long history in the tech industry, working at Microsoft, Google, Slack, Twitch, and Twitter, so is well placed to understand the current tech environment and put his money where his mouth is, making small early stage investments in companies. Amir talks about how vibe coding is an interesting idea, and how we need an incentive model for AI tools, rather than guardrails, to guide their behavior. Jim and Amir also chat about organic applications, evolving over time with AI, the importance of platforms as the basis for AI applications, and how AI is as expensive as it will ever be, so investing in AI companies makes sense now as their costs will come way down over time. Amir also shares his take on what types of companies he is interested in investing in. 🌐 Links: Connect with Amir on LinkedIn [⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirshevat/⁠] Follow Amir on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/amir.blue⁠] Darkmode Ventures [https://www.darkmode.vc/⁠] Bluesky [https://bsky.app/⁠] Daytona [https://www.daytona.io/⁠] 👉 Try Pieces for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pieces.app⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/] 💡 Learn more about Pieces features: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pieces.app/features⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/features]  Connect with Pieces: X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/getpieces⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/getpieces] Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social] LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/] Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/] Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pieces.app/discord⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/discord] In this episode: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:02:09 - Vibe coding 0:05:33 - Running AI code in a sandbox to test your vibe coded applications 0:07:29 - Genetic algorithms and organic coding 0:09:06 - Incentives not guardrails to guide both AI and people 0:11:15 - Social media with the user as the product, and the rise of Bluesky 0:18:32 - What Amir looks for when investing in a company 0:23:37 - Companies still need someone who understands the domain to drive growth 0:26:46 - Ideas that Amir wouldn’t invest in yet 0:31:20 - The cost of AI, and how specialised models would help reduce cost

Social Robots, with David Packman, Co-Founder Packabby Robotics

Welcome to the Pieces AI productivity podcast, where we dig into how experts use AI to be more productive, as well as geeking out in general on different AI topics. 🤖 In todays episode, Jim is joined by David Packman, the co-founder of Packabby robotics, a company that makes social companion robots powered by AI. Jim and David reminisce on Clippy (it looks like you’re writing a letter), and talk about how AI in particular in cute robots provides a much needed social interaction for people on the spectrum who need a way to practise socializing, or for anyone who wants to talk through something with someone who won’t judge. David also talks about the power of social robots with long-term memory, and how enabling what appears to be simple memories, such as remembering what changes you make to a recipe, can unlock a whole new powerful capability in your robot, just like how the Pieces Long-Term Memory enables a new style of AI prompts to retrieve relevant information for you about your activities. 🌐 Links: Packabby Robotics [https://packabby.com/⁠] Connect with David on LinkedIn [⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/packratt/⁠] Mini Moe on Indiegogo [https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mini-moe-your-powerful-pocket-sized-ai-robot-pal#/⁠] Build a 3D Printed Clippy [https://youtu.be/6OYGeOwd6RY?si=v9fyV5X5crK1okoP⁠] Instructions to build Clippy [https://www.hackster.io/david-packman/clippygpt-6a683a⁠] 👉 Try Pieces for free: ⁠⁠⁠https://pieces.app⁠⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/] 💡 Learn more about Pieces features: ⁠⁠⁠https://pieces.app/features⁠⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/features]  Connect with Pieces: X: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/getpieces⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/getpieces] Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/getpieces.bsky.social] LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpieces/] Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/getpieces/] Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://pieces.app/discord⁠⁠⁠ [https://pieces.app/discord] In this episode: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:49 - Why and how David built Clippy 0:08:49 - Introducing Mini Moe, a small robot companion 0:14:18 - Why humans like interacting with anthropomorphic characters 0:24:33 - Using decision trees to handle difficult questions 0:32:05 - Whiskas, the cooking robot 0:36:42 - Long-Term memory is important for social robots 0:42:59 - Get you brown Mini Moe 0:46:29 - More on conversational and long-term memory