Tool Use - AI Conversations

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXSukh 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 storeSubscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and entrepreneurship.Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXIn 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 workhttps://www.nshipyard.com/Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/RichardsonDx00:00:00 - Intro00:00:26 - Frontier Model Race: Gemini 3 vs GPT-5.200:07:27 - Open Source AI and the DeepSeek Market Shock00:12:06 - The Future of AI Interfacing: Voice & Multimodality00:30:39 - Browser Agents and Agentic Tools for 202600:41:58 - Physical AI: The Humanoid Robot Revolution00:48:20 - The Next Frontier: Why Biology is the Bottleneck for AGISubscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and automation.Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXDiscover 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 ushttps://x.com/ToolUsePodcasthttps://x.com/MikeBirdTechhttps://x.com/jasonkneen00:00:00 - Intro00:07:54 - Building Voice Control for AI Agents00:15:20 - Leveraging MCP for Better Tooling00:19:42 - Fast Orchestration & Model Routing00:25:06 - Multi-Model Agent Architecture00:31:13 - Cluso Demo & WorkflowSubscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and modern software development.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXBuilding 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/bookConnect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/calcsam00:00:00 - 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 RisksSubscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI Agents.Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXAI 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/swyx00:00:00 - 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 CodebaseSubscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and agentic workflows.Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXMaster 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.comhttps://www.nshipyard.comConnect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcasthttps://x.com/MikeBirdTechhttps://x.com/RichardsonDx00:00:00 - 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.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXUnlock 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.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXCoding 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/ToolUsePodcasthttps://x.com/MikeBirdTech00:00:00 - Intro00:00:54 - Setting Up Your Dev Environment for AI00:15:18 - Is Software Engineering Dead?00:18:20 - Why Coding Agents? The Origin of Slate00:21:52 - What Makes Slate Different?00:33:19 - The Bottleneck: LLMs vs Tooling00:44:30 - 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.