The Good Stuff, with Pete and Andy - Episode 7: Rise of the Generalist

Hosts: Pete and Andy (recording at City Beach, Perth)

Episode Overview: In this episode, the hosts discuss automating their podcast production pipeline and explore how AI is changing knowledge work.

They examine the impact of AI on jobs, explaining how it gradually automates tasks at a "subatomic" level rather than replacing entire roles immediately. The conversation delves into effective strategies for working with AI coding tools, the future of work, and why generalists with adaptable skills may thrive in an AI-powered economy.Podcast Production Automation (00:55 - 03:35)- The hosts describe automating their podcast production workflow- Their system handles audio processing, transcription, and content generation- AI tools generate show notes, article summaries, and identify potential clips- The goal is to streamline marketing efforts without manual interventionContent Generation at Scale (03:35 - 06:07)- Discussion of how automated processes save hours of manual work- Possibility of using voice cloning technology

- Creating purpose-built content for different platforms from source materialKnowledge Capture in Organizations (06:07 - 10:44)- Applying similar automation techniques to organizational knowledge management- Capturing and sharing discussions across an organization- Using knowledge graphs to store company information- Creating personalized content delivery based on preferencesAI for Problem-Solving (10:44 - 15:25)- Challenging the criticism that AI can't solve novel problems- Discussion of Pablo's "Tenex agent framework" for problem-solving (https://primal.net/e/nevent1qqs227u92fagkjfwx590qe9z58m6fku9luy3tejylgwy5efz23rzndgqd0h93)- Importance of allowing AI time to work through complex problems- Comparison to human problem-solving processes that also require trial and errorAI's Impact on Jobs (23:30 - 31:20)- Examining how AI impacts jobs at a "subatomic" task level- Discussion of why people don't see their jobs as replaceable- Second-order effects of partial job automation (consolidation, wage impacts)- Historical context of technological disruption and job displacementFuture of Work in an AI Economy (31:20 - 38:35)- Debate on what jobs might remain protected from automation- Potential government responses (regulation, UBI, job programs)- Economic impacts like tax base erosion and inflation*- The shift to generalist skills in uncertain environmentsEffective AI Coding Techniques (57:30 - 1:08:00)- Strategies for working effectively with AI coding tools- Using a sequential approach rather than one-shot generation- The importance of planning before coding- Having Claude as a "project manager" while using Cursor for implementation- Balancing speed with understanding and control

"Your job isn't a whole, it's 200 sub-jobs... and any one of them is automatable already given time and tooling"

The Good Stuff, with Pete and Andy - Episode 6: You Can Just Learn Things

Hosts: Pete and Andy (recording at City Beach, Perth in their van)

Episode Overview: Pete and Andy explore how AI is transforming education and learning, discussing the future education, the power of self-directed learning, what kids should be learning and how AI can positively impact high-quality personalized education.

AI and the Future of Learning (02:50-05:43)

• Discussion about what kids should study in a rapidly changing job market

• Pete's children are developing entrepreneurial skills with AI support

• The "Teddy Fashion Boutique" business Pete's daughter has created

• Exploring game development with AI for Pete's son's tabletop gaming interests

Rethinking Traditional Education (05:43-10:30)

• Critique of the industrial-era "assembly line" approach to education

• The importance of play-based and child-led learning approaches

• How AI can enable a shift from classroom instruction to personalized mentoring

• Questioning the value of traditional education when information costs approach zero

• Personal Learning Journeys with AI (10:30-16:17)

• • Coding with AI assistance
  • How AI provides the patience and personalization needed to build learning momentum
• • The importance of having projects you're motivated to build rather than abstract learning

  
  

  The Intelligent Assembly Line of Education (16:17-20:30)

  • School structure mimics industrial assembly lines
  • AI allows for removing the time constraints on education
  • Learning can become more ad-hoc and follow natural curiosity
  • Education doesn't need to be confined to specific years in a person's life

  Learning Through Knowledge Graphs (47:56-52:13)

  • Using AI to break down courses into concepts, topics and abstractions
  • Creating a "map" of both what exists to be learned and what a person knows
  • Navigating a personalized learning path from current knowledge to desired knowledge
  • AI can identify the optimal path through connected concepts for each individual

  Purpose and Agency in Learning (34:40-37:40)

  • Will AI force people to rediscover purpose beyond jobs?
  • The relationship between agency and purpose?
  • AI as a catalyst for pursuing learning aligned with personal interests

  
  

  Democratizing High-Quality Education (52:13-56:33)

  • How AI can provide the benefits of one-to-one tutoring at scale
  • Using AI to create personalized explanations at appropriate complexity levels
  • The value of learning in context rather than in the abstract
  • Creating immersive, engaging learning experiences tailored to individual interests

  Credentialism vs. Learning (01:01:56-01:15:03)

  • Questioning the value of credentials in a world of commoditized expertise
  • The shift from credential-based systems to meritocracy
  • The permissionless nature of learning with AI vs. permission-based traditional education

  "You Can Just Learn Things" (01:11:12-01:15:06)

  • The democratizing power of AI in allowing anyone to learn anything
  • No need to wait feor permission or formal instruction to pursue knowledge
  • How to use AI tools effectively for learning (even without sophisticated tooling)
  • The inevitable bifurcation between those who embrace self-directed AI learning and those who don't

  Memorable Quotes:

  • "You can just learn things." (01:11:24)
  • "The beauty of play is it doesn't feel like work." (30:44)
  • "We spent most of our adult lives trying to track back to that childlike creativity." (31:04)
  • "I think education is going to change quite drastically." (01:01:30)
  • "It doesn't matter what we say to differentiate ourselves in a market. It's more about what we build and how we prove out the values we want to operate by." (09:27)