Episodes

  • Why Open Source AI Will Win (ft Alignment Lab)
    Aug 19 2025

    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.

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    43 mins
  • Advanced Claude Code (ft Ray Fernando and Eric Buess)
    Aug 12 2025

    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.

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    48 mins
  • How to Build Secure MCP Servers (ft Craig McLuckie)
    Aug 5 2025

    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

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    55 mins
  • The Best AI Advice for 2025
    Jul 29 2025

    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

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    58 mins
  • He's Building a Startup With AI (ft Ryan Carson)
    Jul 22 2025

    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.

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    45 mins
  • The AI Playbook Used By Global Companies (ft Olga Beregovaya)
    Jul 15 2025

    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.

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    42 mins
  • How To Make AI Content That Feels Human (ft David Cross)
    Jul 8 2025

    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.

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    45 mins
  • How Businesses Can Adopt AI Today (ft Wolfram Ravenwolf)
    Jul 1 2025

    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.

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    49 mins