Episode 003 · The AI Zeitgeist
AI: Is It The New DIY? Is AI the ultimate do-it-yourself tool or just another hype?
Austin and Luke dive into the world of AI in software development, exploring whether AI is the next big DIY tool or if most people will still prefer hiring experts. They discuss the integration of AI in daily tasks and its potential to change how we work and create.
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AI: Is It The New DIY?
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0:00 Cold open 0:27 DIY and AI: A comparison 2:20 The dual nature of AI 5:04 AI's impact on jobs and enterprises 10:44 Practical AI: Copilot and expense reports 17:24 Young innovators using AI 23:51 The fungal network analogy for AI 27:17 AI as a connector of human knowledge
Pull quotes “AI is not just about taking jobs; it's about creating new opportunities.”
Austin · Play from 1:04 “AI doesn't make you a developer; it connects you to the knowledge of developers.”
Luke · Play from 25:44 Full transcript 0:22 Austin: Hey welcome to the AI Zeitgeist I'm Austin0:25 Luke: And I'm and this week we want to talk0:28 Luke: a bit about software development0:30 Austin: Yeah so I've been kind of about how like0:35 Austin: I was that oh man everyone's gonna be making their own software and like0:40 Austin: even if you could get into the space now developing with AI everyone's gonna be it But then I0:46 Austin: remember back to when I was like I think I was in high school or maybe young adult and I got0:52 Austin: really big into DIY I felt like DIY was kind of like really big which it still is But I got big0:58 Austin: into it started making things myself and fixing things on my car Not at all that I was a car1:03 Austin: person but I didn't have enough money to pay mechanics to it so I was able to out1:08 Austin: stuff for myself so was like man no one is gonna be like hiring mechanics or handymen and1:14 Austin: all this stuff because everyone's gonna do it by themselves with this like big DIY movement And I1:18 Austin: was to my dad about it and he was like no like people aren't gonna want to do that1:24 Austin: mess around with that They're just gonna pay somebody else to do that And so I think that's1:28 Austin: the case too now even though it's so easy and more and people will get into it I feel like1:34 Austin: most people would rather just pay somebody else to deal with an AI to create something1:39 Austin: What do you think1:40 Luke: No I think that's very fascinating I also think there's like another component of this is that1:46 Luke: the layer that's actually AI that is gonna be underneath what people even see Like they're1:53 Luke: pay for something and it's gonna be like oh I like this but they're not even gonna know1:58 Luke: that AI is actually making it or that AI made it in the first place And so I2:02 Luke: think2:03 Austin: there's gonna2:04 Luke: be a lot of people out there that are not even gonna think about AI but it's2:06 Luke: just gonna make their better And it's because they're not necessarily but they're not2:11 Luke: necessarily gonna be the out there building which I think is kind of2:13 Austin: the2:14 Luke: counterintuitive2:14 Luke: point that you're to2:16 Austin: Yeah yeah like I don't think it's gonna be as big of a So in general my thought on AI2:21 Austin: is people are afraid it's gonna steal jobs and people are afraid that it's gonna kill us2:26 Austin: or whatever And there's people that think it's gonna make our easier and people that think2:30 Austin: it's gonna make this utopia And so there's two extremes and I think it's gonna land in the2:35 Austin: So2:36 Luke: gonna2:36 Austin: really bad or really good But I think it's ultimately gonna be just2:40 Austin: you like the was kind of like the internet is really bad2:43 Austin: and the internet's really good But it's kind like in the of overall usefulness to2:47 Austin: humanity2:48 Luke: I mean that's pretty fair take honestly And like it is probably the way it's gonna turn2:54 Luke: out that's the way that do with stuff you when we make3:01 Austin: something3:01 Luke: like3:02 Luke: general purpose technology has good and bad Like we have atomic you know3:09 Luke: nuclear energy right And then we also have the atomic bomb like general purpose3:13 Luke: technology has a really bad use and a really great use And I think it's the same sense here3:18 Luke: There's probably gonna be some really scary things that coming There's also gonna be some3:22 Luke: pretty crazy good things that are coming3:24 Austin: too3:24 Austin: I mean yeah utopia would be cool but I just don't think that's gonna happen3:28 Luke: Yeah3:28 Austin: And I feel like the duality of man we're always looking for hot and cold you3:33 Austin: Yeah3:34 Austin: Like it's always extremes3:36 Luke: but3:37 Austin: it always ends up in the3:39 Luke: Well and I think it's also like you know goes back to like3:42 Luke: how are we thinking about this and stuff in the first place It's like3:45 Luke: we're trying to like is it a Or is it a possibility for me to3:52 Luke: you know it for its you is it an opportunity Is it an opportunity3:57 Luke: or is it a That's really what3:58 Austin: our3:58 Luke: brain flips back and from when we're4:00 Luke: about is it gonna be or dystopia4:03 Luke: Right4:05 Austin: I do think that it will take some jobs for mean4:10 Luke: things4:10 Austin: are just4:11 Austin: some of the base level things now are just like no brainer you should have an AI doing this4:15 Austin: like why waste your time But I don't know I really don't know how it's gonna land4:19 Austin: Because they're even saying now like bigger companies are finding that they're more4:22 Austin: people Because each employee actually gets a bigger they can output more and they can output4:29 Austin: wider than their own domain expertise4:31 Luke: Right Because it used to be that4:32 Luke: would hire somebody and they would come in and do a And then for a big company4:37 Luke: like you would pay somebody like 70 80 100 120 like even more4:42 Luke: thousand a to take care of a problem for you so don't have to think about it4:46 Luke: Right like that is some now it's like can pay somebody like roughly that same amount4:53 Luke: of and not only are they taking care of a but they're also adding value to the4:59 Luke: company in other ways too5:00 Austin: Right5:00 Luke: And so like it's like there is two main enterprise reactions5:05 Luke: to AI Either it's like let's maximize our efficiency which means laying off people5:11 Luke: And the other mechanism is we're to our value creation which means that5:17 Luke: we're to a of people to take advantage of what AI is going to be able to do5:21 Luke: because you can't really just plug in AI into something You have to have somebody manage5:27 Luke: like the agents and create the harness and design the that they're to5:38 Luke: It's5:39 Austin: a skill to be able to orchestrate AI to know how to use it properly5:44 Austin: and to properly I5:46 Luke: it's5:47 Austin: getting easier and5:48 Luke: but5:49 Luke: It's getting easier and but then it gets harder And I'll explain So5:55 Luke: when you're in one class of right and you are it for a while you kind of get used to6:01 Luke: it But then when the next class of comes out you have to relearn everything all over again6:05 Luke: And your previous knowledge can actually like be working against you6:11 Luke: yeah6:11 Austin: it can be6:12 Luke: instead6:13 Austin: of helping6:14 Luke: The recent model that came out in last couple of has been Astra which is6:18 Austin: GPT6:19 Luke: 66:20 Luke: And I guess I saw a that they're going to release GPT 6 Sol so Astra is just going to be6:26 Luke: another tier So maybe it's going to you're6:28 Austin: going think6:28 Luke: about it like Fable6:29 Luke: and like Sol is like Opus maybe I don't know Like we'll have to see how it pans out6:35 Luke: but that's Anyway beside the point the thing that I'm realizing is that there is like this6:42 Luke: you get used to the GPT 5 family of and every new model is an increase6:49 Luke: but it still feels similar But then you jump to 6 and I've been it for6:57 Luke: it's completely different Like it's still AI and I'm still using the same techniques I've used7:03 Luke: before but I'm to relearn like the way that I do things with the7:09 Austin: Because maybe you don't have to do as much7:11 Luke: Well7:12 Austin: Or if you try to do too much kind of mucks it up and gets in the way7:15 Luke: But it's yeah it's complicated It's the same that I got when I first7:20 Luke: started using Fable like it's very This is just my initial vibe So like7:25 Luke: obviously it could change over the next couple days but it feels very precise and7:29 Luke: a lot of behind it And you have to be very careful in way you aim it7:33 Luke: because if you don't give7:34 Austin: it7:34 Luke: the7:34 Austin: right7:34 Luke: specifications it can go off on the wrong thing7:37 Austin: Okay7:37 Luke: So it's not as intuitive which makes sense It's just it's a more autonomous model Like7:42 Luke: it's going to run things on own7:44 Luke: Right7:45 Austin: Well I talked about that before I in our last episode about7:49 Austin: was finding myself getting too technical in7:51 Luke: my prompts7:52 Luke: right7:52 Austin: And I was like I need to back up a bit and just see what happens7:56 Luke: Well okay That's a good transition I You were to this about a technique8:01 Luke: that you found useful that when you do need to back up in your chat there actually is a8:06 Luke: in8:07 Austin: most8:07 Luke: of8:07 Austin: the chat8:08 Luke: threads to do this8:09 Austin: Yeah So if you ever find yourself you're like let's say you have 10 prompts in that you've8:14 Austin: and whichever AI you're has responded 10 times and you're kind like okay this is not8:20 Austin: I'm not getting the I want And you look back up five of your prompts8:24 Austin: and you're like oh okay this is kind of maybe I should have given more detail here8:28 Austin: or I shouldn't have said that Well you can actually right the and edit it8:32 Austin: and then you're kind of fresh from that point the previous five prompts8:38 Austin: you had kind of disappear and it just starts from that point And so instead of starting8:43 Austin: in your chat when you feel like it's not going if going off the or whatever you can8:47 Austin: kind of figure out where it took a left turn and you can start from that point and kind of pick up and8:52 Austin: up and and it's kind of cool too because you've seen you're kind of seeing into the future at8:56 Austin: that So you can see like when you go back to that that fifth prompt you're like9:02 Austin: oh this is all up and I know how it from this point on so let me change it at this9:06 Austin: point so I can have it go where I want it to go It's9:08 Luke: like it's like you know and on9:10 Luke: the spice and you can see all paths and you pick9:13 Austin: you9:13 Luke: go back and pick the one you want to pick9:14 Luke: to pick9:15 Austin: Right exactly9:16 Luke: So that's that's cool That's a great great tip and I think it's9:19 Luke: helpful because we talked about this before but if you are going on a certain path like9:24 Luke: context has so much like control over where the interaction is going and so if the context9:31 Luke: starts to get messed up because you took a left turn or you didn't give it the specifications9:35 Luke: that you wanted to give it etc9:37 Austin: like9:38 Luke: instead of just being like oh well now I have to really9:40 Luke: work to this one No you can just go back and just like restart it from the point that9:45 Luke: makes9:46 Austin: sense not like so if you continued those 10 chats and like at that9:50 Austin: your 11th prompt that you're gonna write you're like okay well maybe I'll just steer it in the9:55 Austin: right direction Well it still has all the context of all the wrong direction it had9:59 Austin: so it is better to go back10:00 Luke: yep10:01 Austin: and start fresh10:02 Luke: So there's also think and I haven't used this10:05 Luke: yet but I feel like there's a way to this as well but I think for some10:09 Luke: of the AIs I know Gemini does this one because I've it like as a as a thing you can click on10:13 Luke: click on but you can actually branch the chat10:15 Austin: Yeah I've seen that too I haven't messed with it10:17 Luke: Where like you can basically say like I want all of this context in a new chat window10:21 Luke: and I'm to talk of it in this one and then I want this context in another chat window that I10:25 Luke: can talk in the other way So like you could maybe explore two different ideas from a10:29 Luke: point in the chat context10:31 Austin: Right yeah I've never used that10:33 Luke: No I either but I just I10:34 Luke: just was thinking about it right now that maybe it could be useful10:36 Austin: in10:37 Luke: this10:37 Austin: Yeah it could10:38 Austin: be10:38 Luke: So10:39 Austin: especially if you wanted to maybe pursue two different things at a halfway point10:43 Austin: of your conversation10:45 Luke: Yeah absolutely Okay so one of the things that you were earlier10:49 Luke: was talking about how AI is going to be the and how people are using it at10:55 Luke: their jobs and you think you had a story that you wanted to talk about with10:59 Austin: the11:00 Luke: expense report that11:01 Luke: you're doing11:02 Austin: Yeah so I got I got a card at my fairly recently and then I got the11:08 Austin: first like expense report thing11:10 Luke: I was like11:11 Austin: I'm not going to do this I got to figure out a way11:14 Austin: for AI to do this So I used Copilot which I've never used before but Copilot's actually really11:20 Austin: cool especially we use Microsoft 365 and it's cool because it has it access to all your11:27 Austin: emails all company data it can read your OneDrive it can read Excel Word all stuff11:31 Austin: and so it's like integrated into Microsoft 365 so you don't have to out11:38 Austin: how to give it your company context It just kind of has it So I typed in I was at the beach11:44 Austin: and I just this idea so I whipped out my and I fired up Copilot and I in11:50 Austin: um show me all of the emails that have a in them from this date to this date and the11:58 Austin: is for a with this four digit ending you the last four digits of this12:04 Austin: and so I did that and like right away it came back with every single12:10 Austin: purchase receipt that I had like the exact same ones that were given to me to find the12:15 Austin: for and it was amazing um and there was one receipt like most of them were um online things12:21 Austin: that I had bought and so the was to me automatically but I had gone to Guitar12:25 Austin: Center to buy something and so I had a physical receipt so I took a of it right away when12:31 Austin: I was at the Guitar Center and I just emailed it to myself and I put the job number it was12:35 Austin: associated with in the subject and that's all I put and so this thing brought up that email12:41 Austin: that It was just an image of the and knew that this card that he's looking12:45 Austin: for was used on this and it brought up all the for it and so my next thing12:50 Austin: that was just a quick thing so my next thing is going to be have it actually fill out the expense12:55 Austin: report for me12:56 Luke: Totally12:57 Austin: Instead of just bringing it all up in the same window12:58 Luke: Well okay so that's12:59 Luke: a fascinating example because I feel like what's important there is that like you know Copilot is13:04 Luke: not like getting amazing like flowers for being an like useful13:10 Austin: it's using13:12 Austin: OpenAI13:12 Luke: Well exactly but I mean13:13 Austin: like13:14 Luke: it right but I mean like people like will13:16 Luke: talk crap about it and they'll be like oh it's just Copilot whatever I know13:19 Austin: and13:19 Luke: I think it's like13:20 Luke: no but the point is is that you don't need an incredible model like even if it's just like the13:26 Luke: step back like it's OpenAI like sure but it's going to it's pulling from your company like13:32 Luke: that right there the context13:34 Austin: That's a big thing because it's hard13:35 Luke: to get13:36 Austin: 10013:36 Luke: 100 and it's13:37 Luke: like integrated into your like trusted vendor like that's handling your email and all your data13:44 Luke: like if you are a Microsoft like office you probably are to use more Copilot than you13:51 Luke: are and I would say the same thing13:54 Austin: you should13:54 Luke: Right exactly and I would say the same13:57 Luke: thing if you are using Gmail like if you're a Google office you probably are to use way14:02 Luke: more Gemini than you would normally or you should14:05 Austin: Right right14:06 Luke: because it's got to14:07 Austin: for14:07 Austin: like so that I had always like kind of written Copilot off14:10 Luke: Exactly that's what14:11 Austin: We're mess with that14:12 Luke: exactly14:12 Austin: It's Microsoft's thing and but but had that14:19 Austin: as how much proprietary context it had access to which is awesome actually I mean it might scare14:25 Austin: some people right but it's also like it's already it feels safer than anything else because14:29 Austin: it's into Office14:32 Luke: And it's and I'm I'm probably I don't necessarily know exactly how14:36 Luke: your enterprise is set up but my assumption is that it is basically giving you access or giving14:43 Luke: the agent access to everything that you have permission to see14:47 Austin: exactly14:47 Luke: Anything that you14:48 Luke: are authorized to see under your 365 profile is something14:52 Austin: that14:52 Luke: the can also see and can14:55 Luke: build off of that for its context Right14:58 Austin: that reminds me I had set up a for my company15:01 Austin: using AI to code it all that integrates our our service we have this like service ticketing15:08 Austin: software that we use or it's a website and so it doesn't do everything that we'd love it to do15:13 Austin: so I has an API and so I've kind of my own dashboard that everyone can see and each15:19 Austin: person has their own login but now with the Copilot thing I'm actually thinking about integrating15:24 Austin: single sign on for Microsoft15:27 Luke: Yep15:27 Austin: So they'll use their Microsoft credentials to sign into the15:30 Austin: and then I'm to put a Copilot chat in there and when they authenticate15:34 Austin: through their Microsoft credentials it automatically will allow them to have access15:39 Austin: like you were just saying to only the stuff they have access to Which is so it's like15:43 Austin: it's built in already I wouldn't have to15:46 Luke: yeah it's15:47 Austin: not I guess the point what I'm15:48 Austin: trying to say is it's not like unsafe because it's not like you put a Copilot chat and now15:52 Austin: like suddenly everyone in your company has access to everything15:55 Luke: Right I mean15:55 Austin: it's not15:56 Luke: it's row level security is what it is like from15:58 Austin: right right15:59 Luke: from a SQL perspective like16:00 Luke: you only get to see what you're supposed to be able to see and it's16:04 Austin: already done16:05 Luke: Yeah16:06 Luke: exactly you're16:07 Austin: extra you have to do Which16:09 Luke: you've ever if you've16:10 Luke: ever VibeCoded anything like the first thing that's super hard to do is like authentication16:17 Luke: The second thing that's really hard to do is setting up payments Now there are things that16:22 Luke: can make both of things easier but if you're trying to something like those16:26 Luke: are the two hurdles that traditionally are a harder to overcome as a non software16:34 Luke: engineer trying to build something16:36 Austin: right16:36 Luke: if Copilot handles authentication take advantage16:39 Luke: So16:40 Austin: I was at the beach this past16:41 Luke: week with16:42 Austin: a close family friend family It's a family16:47 Austin: who's friends with my family and another family but that's too much detail So16:53 Austin: this family has a son name's Luke too16:55 Luke: just16:56 Austin: like your name and he's 15 and I've him17:00 Austin: probably for like five or six years maybe more I'm not sure So I've kind of him grow up17:05 Austin: and he's always been really interested in computer stuff and graphics and all that stuff17:10 Austin: and he's really smart but he's been using AI like as much as I am and it was pretty cool17:16 Austin: because we were talking at the and we're both like geeking out about different things So17:20 Austin: Astra had just come out while we were at the and so he was showing me all this17:24 Austin: stuff he's doing He actually has at least one maybe two or three apps on the App Store that17:30 Austin: he's making money off of that he used AI to Like one thing is it's this17:36 Austin: driving log for your permit or and it um17:41 Austin: So it every drive that they make and kind of puts on a map and so there's a17:45 Austin: of different features I don't know everything about it but I think it helps parents kind of17:49 Austin: see what their are doing and all that stuff and it track of logs that you have to have17:52 Austin: for the number of you have to and so he developed this by himself with AI17:58 Austin: and he set up an LLC and he's making money off of it which is crazy He's 1518:03 Austin: but he was showing me how Astra was working and he had it Astra's really good at use18:09 Austin: which if you don't know that's just can literally use a just like you would18:13 Austin: so it can use any programs you have on your computer which is pretty amazing but he had it18:17 Austin: use Autodesk Fusion to create a watch stand that he could 3D print18:23 Austin: for his specific watch that he has which is pretty cool18:27 Luke: Yeah absolutely I that's the18:28 Luke: thing I think what I'm is that there's two main things that just in that story18:33 Luke: There's the first part where he's money off of this because he's it to build an18:37 Austin: application18:38 Luke: old Yeah exactly The second part of it is where I think most people18:43 Luke: are going to find value It's not that everyone can't make money with I think that's a18:48 Luke: but I think what you should probably focus on first is what is the one thing that you18:53 Luke: wish you had like a watch stand Okay that very specific watch Now I can go out and get a 3D print19:00 Luke: done because I can have the AI design this specific watch stand So you're about19:06 Luke: computer use I actually attempted something today and I still haven't finally figured it all out19:12 Luke: but every week I do meal planning for our and then we our online to go and19:20 Luke: them up I was like okay this is pretty much all just thinking and making sure it's19:25 Luke: coherent and stick to a and go to these places online This is all stuff that I can do19:34 Luke: Again the same thought am I doing this19:37 Austin: I'm finding that more and I'm doing something19:40 Austin: like why am I wasting my time19:42 Luke: So I'm testing it and so far I'm not as19:50 Luke: particular on the food that I eat and most of our meal planning specifics are what my girls or my19:56 Luke: would like to eat So I don't unfortunately have the taste or the judgment to be able to give20:01 Luke: the AI good enough instructions So right now it's a lot of trial and error where it's like20:06 Luke: okay this is what I think the specifications are It'll come with the and then it will20:11 Luke: that I have to check with the family Hey this is what20:15 Austin: I'm20:15 Luke: thinking of the meals20:16 Austin: sound20:17 Luke: good And then eventually after we have enough feedback and we it gets kind of20:22 Luke: can into our our style of what we're liking I'm trying to get it set up so that20:27 Luke: it will actually use the computer used to actually use the browser to like fill out my20:31 Luke: cart20:32 Austin: to20:32 Luke: it Yeah Well I don't want it to push the Like I don't want it to push20:34 Luke: the button20:35 Austin: to20:35 Luke: pay for it You know20:36 Austin: you're not that adventurous20:38 Luke: So opening actually recommend20:40 Austin: that don't have20:45 Luke: their agents20:46 Austin: purchase for you20:48 Luke: but it recommends that you have them go20:49 Luke: all the way up to the purchase point and then you as a human just review the that is assembled20:55 Austin: Right20:56 Luke: So that's what I want20:57 Austin: to20:57 Luke: try is to get it to have basically it onto my calendar21:01 Luke: like the recipe for every night of the week when we're it And then it my wife21:05 Luke: her email address to the calendar invite so she can see everything21:09 Luke: So it's doing all that automatically already21:11 Austin: Yeah That's really helpful We we have a21:14 Austin: terrible time We eat out all the time21:15 Luke: Yeah21:16 Austin: So much easier21:17 Luke: Right21:17 Austin: But yeah if I can have AI21:19 Austin: plan the meals out and make it as easy as possible that would be21:23 Luke: super helpful Yeah That's21:24 Luke: what I'm trying So we'll see we'll see how it I'll let you know how it goes next week21:28 Luke: Next week it'll be me doing this for the week after that So we'll follow up on this but yeah21:38 Austin: I did have a with talking about that kid Luke and 3d printing So I have a 3d printer21:45 Austin: This kid has a 3d I don't think you have one yet but you want to get one Yeah21:49 Austin: And they're not that expensive Like they're coming down in and coming21:52 Austin: like increasing in capabilities but probably one of the stopping point for people21:58 Austin: is like man I don't know how to design anything like custom I need there's a22:03 Austin: of libraries or like websites that you can stuff for free and which are really useful But22:08 Austin: I think the truest value of a 3d printer is being able to make something22:12 Austin: exactly what you need it to be And now with AI especially with computer use and the AI can22:18 Austin: actually even just generate the file for a 3d printer to But now you can like22:24 Austin: like making that watch stand for his specific watch is like there was no effort22:30 Austin: It was just typing in a and it does it And so I think that's going to open up the window22:35 Austin: for people to use 3d printers more because you can just type what you want and you don't have22:39 Austin: to know how to make it22:41 Luke: Yeah You just have to know what you want If you know what you want22:44 Luke: and you're to describe it well or if you can't it well if you're patient enough22:49 Luke: for it to go back and until you get what you're for like right Then you're22:54 Luke: to land a plane and it's going to work so22:56 Austin: that you don't even need that much patience22:58 Austin: Like it's getting better and and You can one shot things so much easier now23:05 Luke: Yeah23:06 Luke: Measurements and then make it perfect23:07 Austin: Yeah23:08 Luke: Yeah23:09 Austin: With that that sound thing that I was making23:11 Austin: um that we talked about in the previous episode it I was working with AI the whole time And so23:16 Austin: it knew like my hardware stack So it everything everything was and it has access23:19 Austin: to all the dimensions for that23:20 Luke: And this is like the Raspberry Pi that like helps you check the23:23 Luke: speaker system in23:24 Austin: the grocery23:24 Luke: store Okay Yeah23:25 Austin: Yeah Yeah And so I just for23:28 Austin: just to see if it would work said make a uh uh an enclosure could 3d print with this23:35 Austin: And it's not what I up going with but it was worked And like so that was just23:39 Austin: that was just a total out there thing I was just like I'm gonna see if it can do it23:42 Austin: And it did it And that was even before Astro that can now do it even better Yeah23:49 Austin: So um so I know you wanted to talk about fungus23:52 Luke: Yeah Right Yeah23:53 Austin: your love fungus23:54 Luke: right Yeah exactly No So okay So I was listening to23:58 Austin: I'm saying it wrong23:59 Austin: right I'm saying it wrong24:00 Luke: Yeah So it's kind of a play on words It's like fun AI24:04 Luke: fungi It's the fun24:06 Austin: guy24:07 Luke: Right24:07 Austin: Fun AI24:08 Luke: Exactly So so here's the thing I was watching this24:12 Luke: uh clip of a podcast um Neil deGrasse Tyson star talk and Jaron Lanier I think I'm saying24:19 Luke: his last name correctly He's like a early VR pioneer Um but he's his argument is24:27 Luke: kind of provocative He says there's no AI and he's not saying that the technology isn't like24:32 Luke: real or impressive He's saying that there's a mistake where24:37 Luke: that AI is primarily some new independent creature So he's he's saying that it's24:44 Luke: like in to it we have to think about it as like an collaboration between24:50 Luke: human beings human knowledge language art code decisions it's all being compressed24:56 Luke: into these systems So that's like very interesting because like at first I was like25:02 Luke: what are you talking about Like that doesn't make sense But I thought about it more and25:05 Luke: and I think it kind of connected for me a bit Um25:08 Austin: I25:08 Luke: started thinking about fungus25:11 Luke: And I was thinking about the the the networks in forests that these fungus form25:20 Luke: and they go through the and they connect these trees together And then the are25:27 Luke: able to communicate with each other and they25:31 Austin: share like nutrients and25:33 Luke: So it's like25:34 Luke: that was the fascinating thing It's like you the trees aren't technically connected25:39 Luke: right They're not like really actually talking to each other but it's like kind of like this vibe25:44 Luke: this thing it's like25:44 Austin: there's25:45 Luke: real stuff Exactly Tree guys So it's it's25:51 Luke: it's very very fascinating So that's that's what what I was25:54 Luke: what I was thinking about And then I was about this on another level like okay25:59 Luke: network don't we already have a Isn't it called the26:02 Austin: Yeah26:02 Luke: technically26:03 Luke: Right But I think it's more powerful than the internet I think the is the substrate26:08 Luke: that AI is running on but AI is what's making the actually actionable26:13 Luke: It's it's computers institutions documents billions of people lowers the cost26:19 Luke: of moving information but it's getting access to the is not the same thing as being26:25 Luke: able to use it26:26 Austin: Yeah that's true26:27 Luke: You know Google gives you 10 000 pages about JavaScript26:30 Luke: but it doesn't make me a software developer26:32 Austin: Right Right26:32 Luke: You know so it's it's it's26:34 Luke: AI is actually able to think about all these things and understand it And so then when I say26:39 Luke: Hey I want an HTML app that runs on JavaScript that does X Y Z it's pulling all that26:44 Luke: together and it's doing the work and it's building it and handing it back to me26:48 Luke: Like that's not magic That's just the internet like into a that can give me26:54 Luke: the thing that it's actually already there Right26:57 Austin: Well and it's cool because you27:00 Austin: like if you're going to back in the old days Google something and research something27:05 Austin: you're limited to the path that you take the clicks you make know And now27:10 Austin: like AI has its full understanding of stuff And so it can correlate different things that maybe27:17 Austin: you wouldn't have if you were just on your own So you come to a understanding27:22 Austin: of what you're looking for Kind of27:25 Luke: Yeah It gives you the breadth and the depth of a topic27:30 Luke: Like instead of you having to upon a like rabbit hole and going this way27:35 Luke: and going that way like it can kind of do that in a systematic way and give you the27:40 Luke: but it's not just the You I think the could say that the27:45 Luke: connected the but AI is beginning to connect the capability which that's the27:50 Luke: fascinating thing It's like it's it's not only is it getting you the information it's also doing27:53 Luke: stuff for you it's just it's just like I think it's a it's a really fascinating thing27:58 Luke: And I think it's partially why we're thinking about this as an AI zeitgeist because there28:06 Luke: is this feeling that I've had multiple times I think we've about this previous episodes28:12 Austin: but it's28:13 Luke: like you go into a problem and you're like trying to figure out how to it And28:18 Luke: then you figure out I think I should go this direction And then you like jump into a podcast28:24 Luke: or you're listening to something or you're something somebody famous and or28:28 Luke: they're know a thought leader and they say Oh I'm X Y And I'm like Oh I figured28:33 Luke: out that's what should be doing like two days ago And like it's not like I was first and it's28:38 Luke: not like this like they were first it's more like they're publishing their thought And they28:42 Luke: probably had this thought like a while before they published it like28:45 Austin: the28:46 Luke: lag time and28:47 Luke: everything it's more like that we're moving in sync rather than like one person's first28:50 Luke: or the other one's first I think that is the thing It's like because we're all28:56 Luke: using the same models they're us think about things in a way And we're to29:01 Luke: come to a there's like29:03 Austin: stranger things29:04 Luke: the29:06 Austin: mind hive Exactly29:08 Luke: But29:08 Luke: what's fascinating about this is that you can have somebody thinking about a problem from one29:14 Luke: angle because their context like what they are doing is kind of in one local area but then the29:22 Luke: same problem could see itself in another spot And the person that's there is going to use a29:27 Luke: solution but it's going to be dialed in for29:29 Austin: what they're29:29 Luke: doing there And then like you can kind29:31 Luke: of build off of that and they can just it's I'm very excited for the future because I29:36 Luke: there is going to be more innovation not less as it's going to be human driven29:41 Luke: Like there's a human connection inside of the AI know29:45 Austin: like the way that I think a lot of times29:48 Austin: something will like give me an idea of how to think differently like so I think talking29:54 Austin: with AI comes with like some like crazy awesome things but that also might increase you29:59 Austin: your ability to deviate from those things and come with something even more cool30:04 Luke: Yeah absolutely Yeah exactly30:06 Luke: It's the thing that's that's that's interesting is that it's it's it's focusing30:11 Luke: like it's if you think about it from the the of like AI is a thing and30:17 Austin: you're30:17 Luke: thinking30:18 Luke: about it like it is it is AI and I'm to go ask AI for something then you might be30:23 Luke: the And that's what I think what what Lanier was trying to say was that the the thing30:28 Luke: that you're getting from it is if you think about it as connecting to other people and other experts30:34 Luke: and I don't know how to but I know that other people know how to code and that30:38 Luke: expertise has been given to AI And so I can ask AI for it but it's coming from other people30:43 Luke: Like right And that's30:45 Austin: giving you access to like all of human knowledge30:48 Luke: Exactly And so as we add30:50 Luke: to human knowledge using AI like AI will get better30:55 Austin: because30:55 Luke: it's just amplifying like what30:57 Luke: we're doing So I am ending it on a hopeful note but we31:02 Austin: did31:02 Luke: talk at the about how there's31:04 Luke: like you possible dystopian futures as well So I'm going31:07 Austin: to31:07 Luke: say that31:08 Austin: it's31:08 Luke: going to31:08 Luke: be like you know amazing but Well31:11 Austin: it's weird Yeah It's weird now how antiquated31:15 Austin: like seems and some of like the old Oh my Google just chirped31:19 Luke: Yes Because31:20 Austin: I said31:21 Austin: Google it's listening It's going to kill me now31:24 Luke: You call it antiquated31:25 Austin: Just thinking about like31:26 Austin: the old way we used to stuff31:28 Luke: Yeah31:28 Austin: Which sounds stupid It cliche to say the old way31:31 Austin: but like for me was a plane crash that just happened31:34 Luke: of31:35 Austin: like an Amazon plane31:37 Austin: and I wanted to about it And so instead of going to to Google it I just asked31:42 Austin: Gemini which is Google I asked Gemini to me all about it And then I do this a Now31:48 Austin: I'm noticing I'll ask about a event that's happening And then I'll come back like a couple31:52 Austin: hours later and say like okay anything new yet And it'll give me all the new stuff that's broken31:57 Austin: it that's not how like the idea of just Googling it and reading an32:02 Austin: seems so antiquated now32:04 Luke: But even like you you used to jump on X or Twitter and like see32:07 Luke: breaking news but like you can use an AI that's to find all that stuff that's on X and like32:13 Luke: compile it for you and sort it and like say okay well this person's somewhat like reputable32:18 Luke: This person is not I'm going to32:19 Austin: it32:20 Luke: does all that from all that sorting for you and tells you32:22 Luke: what's going on And then it can cite its sources and you can click on it and follow it the32:26 Luke: track But yeah it's it's it's fascinating The way we'd it is the way we get32:30 Luke: information is completely different for sure32:33 Austin: And just how exponentially it's changing32:35 Austin: And so I'm really excited to see what the future holds even in the next few weeks32:41 Austin: Well32:42 Luke: okay32:42 Austin: that's how fast it grows32:43 Luke: And that's something we keep saying is32:46 Luke: is okay but that's what it's32:48 Austin: like32:48 Luke: this week Right32:50 Austin: But not next32:50 Luke: week Exactly32:52 Luke: But32:52 Austin: for now but maybe maybe next week it'll come out32:55 Luke: And speaking of next week we will32:57 Luke: definitely be picking this back up next week And I am super excited for you guys to hear about my33:04 Austin: grocery33:05 Luke: episode and see how that saga unfolds But I appreciate you guys listening and that's33:09 Luke: it for this week Thanks for joining us on the AI Zeitgeist
AI software development Copilot Astra Gemini
Topics Discussed
[0:28] DIY and AI: A comparison
[2:21] The dual nature of AI
[5:05] AI's impact on jobs and enterprises
[10:45] Practical AI: Copilot and expense reports
[17:24] Young innovators using AI
[23:52] The fungal network analogy for AI
[26:58] AI as a connector of human knowledge
Key Points
The potential of AI to democratize software development.
AI's role in enhancing productivity at work.
How young developers are leveraging AI to create and monetize apps.
The philosophical view of AI as a connector, not a creator.
Resources
Microsoft Copilot
OpenAI's GPT models
Astra and Gemini platforms
Quotes
"AI is not just about taking jobs; it's about creating new opportunities." — Austin
"AI doesn't make you a developer; it connects you to the knowledge of developers." — Luke
