What AI Can't Replace – How The Atlantic Deals with Disruption
In this episode, Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, offers a sweeping and deeply personal exploration of how AI is reshaping creativity, leadership, and human connection. From his daily video series The Most Interesting Thing in Tech to his marathon training powered by ChatGPT, Nicholas shares how he integrates AI into both work and life—not just as a tool, but as a thought partner.He reflects on the emotional complexity of AI relationships, the tension between cognitive augmentation and cognitive offloading, and what it means to preserve our “unwired” intelligence in an increasingly automated world. The conversation ventures into leadership during disruption, the ethics of AI-generated content, and the future of journalism in a world where agents may consume your content on your behalf.Nicholas also shares how he's cultivating third spaces, building muscle memory for analog thinking, and encouraging experimentation across his team—all while preparing for an uncertain future where imagination, not automation, might be our greatest asset.Whether you're a tech-savvy leader, a content creator, or just trying to stay grounded in the age of generative AI, this episode is full of honest reflections and hard-earned insights on how to navigate what’s next.Key Takeaways:Your “unwired” intelligence is your AI superpower — The more human skills you build—like deep focus, emotional presence, and analog thinking—the better you’ll be at wielding AI. Thompson argues that cultivating these unwired abilities isn’t just about staying grounded—it’s about unlocking the full potential of the tools.Don’t fight the storm—gear up and adapt — AI is already transforming media and creative industries. Thompson compares it to a coming storm: you can’t stop it by yelling at the clouds. Instead, embrace it, understand it deeply, and make strategic decisions based on where it’s heading.Leadership means showing, not just telling — As a CEO navigating disruption, Thompson doesn’t just advocate for AI exploration—he models it. From training staff on GPTs to walking the halls and testing ideas live, he treats leadership as a practice of visible experimentation and continuous learning.AI relationships can’t replace real connection—but they can confuse it — Whether it's logging meals with a bot or losing a personalized Enneagram coach to a reset, Thompson highlights the emotional pull of AI and the dangers of relying on digital companions over human ones. Staying socially connected, especially through “third spaces,” is more important than ever.LinkedIn: Nicholas Thompson | LinkedInThe Atlantic: World Edition - The AtlanticWebsite: Home - Nicholas ThompsonX: nxthompson (@nxthompson)Strava: Cycling & Biking App - Tracker, Trails, Training & More | StravaCaitlin Flanagan – Sex Without Women: Article:SexWithoutWomen-TheAtlantic00:00 Introduction to Nicholas Thompson00:11 Navigating the Information Overload01:10 Daily Tech Insights and Tools02:10 Using AI for Content Creation04:39 AI as a Personal Trainer08:02 Emotional Connections with AI12:12 The Risks of AI Relationships16:17 Preparing for AGI and Cognitive Offloading30:26 AI's Impact on Leadership31:10 Navigating AI Competitors32:01 Internal AI Strategies32:49 Ethical Considerations in AI Usage34:07 AI in Journalism and Writing36:32 Practical AI Applications40:27 Balancing AI and Human Skills49:27 Future of AI in Media53:50 Final Thoughts and Reflections📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of What AI Can't Replace – How The Atlantic Deals with Disruption |
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelinJeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
13/5/2025
1:00:45
Prompting for Originality: How Devin McNulty Is AI-Enabling His Workshop Business
In this episode, Devin McNulty, founder of Funmentum Labs and creator of Funware, joins us to explore what happens when you treat fun not as fluff—but as a powerful lever for doing serious work.After 15 years of leading high-stakes strategy and innovation workshops for Fortune 500 teams, Devin set out to scale his approach. The result: Funware, an AI-powered facilitation tool that helps hybrid teams run faster, more creative workshops—without needing a pro facilitator in the room. He shares how it works: from AI that rephrases vague challenges into crisp prompts, to bots that throw out just-bad-enough ideas to unlock new thinking.We dive into the deep end of design choices—why Devin treats AI like a co-facilitator, not a thought partner, and how he builds in levity and timing to shift posture in skeptical rooms. He talks about “pre-training” AI the same way you’d brief a human teammate, and what it means to productize your own facilitation brain.The conversation is also a blueprint for AI-first entrepreneurship: how to turn creative intuition into software, how to build with (and not for) users, and how to design tools that spark real interaction—not just outputs.Whether you're leading workshops, building internal tools, or trying to make your team more idea-generative, this episode is packed with insights on creative AI, team dynamics, and the future of facilitation.Key Takeaways:Fun Is a Strategic Tool—Not a Distraction – Devin challenges the assumption that “fun” and “serious work” are at odds. His facilitation method uses play to unlock alignment, compress timelines, and spark better ideas—especially in rooms that normally resist creative approaches.AI Can Facilitate, Not Just Assist – Most teams use AI as a solo tool or sidekick. Devin flips the script—designing AI to act like a group facilitator. Funware injects prompts, rephrases challenges, and even drops well-timed bad ideas to shift group dynamics and drive progress.Pre-training Your AI Is Like Prepping a Human Teammate – One of Devin’s biggest insights: treat your AI agents like collaborators. Build them with clear intent, layer in prompting strategy, and fine-tune them for the moment they’ll be used—just like you’d brief a co-facilitator before a workshop.Productizing Yourself Is the New Playbook – Devin’s journey is a case study in AI-first entrepreneurship—turning deep craft into software. His advice? Start with your workflow, atomize it into repeatable components, and build tools that deliver value with the push of a button.Website: Funmentum™ LabsLinkedIn: Devin McNulty | LinkedIn00:00 Intro to Funmentum Labs & Funware00:38 Why Fun Is a Powerful Work Strategy01:41 Overcoming Skepticism in Serious Workplaces02:27 Techniques to Engage Resistant Teams06:32 Can AI Be Funny? Humor in Corporate Settings08:03 How Funware Uses AI to Drive Group Creativity11:43 Automating Workshops with AI-Powered Prompts14:04 Devin’s Path from Facilitator to AI Builder16:21 Advanced Prompting Techniques in Funware28:34 Creative Prompting: Logos, Personas & Play30:04 Exercises to Push Beyond Obvious Ideas31:35 How AI Unlocks Group Innovation36:55 Pre-Training AI for Better Collaboration43:35 Using AI as Muse, Challenger & Focuser48:46 Final Thoughts📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Prompting for Originality: How Devin McNulty Is AI-Enabling His Workshop Business |
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelinJeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
29/4/2025
55:50
How Mihir Shukla Is Reimagining Work With 300 Million AI Agents (and Counting)
In this episode, Mihir Shukla, CEO and Chairman of Automation Anywhere, shares what it takes to build an autonomous enterprise—where AI doesn’t just assist work, but actually does it. With over 300 million AI agents already running on their platform, Mihir argues the future of work isn’t ahead of us—it’s unfolding now.We explore how Automation Anywhere is reimagining its own operations, automating everything from tax to customer service, and how other companies can do the same. Mihir shares a playbook for identifying high-impact automation opportunities and overcoming the cultural inertia that holds teams back.The conversation also zooms out: from the global productivity crisis and shrinking workforce to the ethical responsibility of upskilling at scale. Mihir shares powerful stories from communities that went from minimum wage to six-figure AI careers in just months—and reminds us what’s at stake if we don’t move fast.If you’re rethinking how work gets done, this episode is a blueprint for what’s possible.Key Takeaways:Don’t Wait for the Future of Work—Build It - Mihir’s team is already running 300 million AI agents across global enterprises. From automating 90% of tax operations to generating CEO-ready briefings on the fly, he shows how much of today’s work can be autonomous—and how fast it’s scaling.Stalled Productivity? AI Is the Only Way Through - Despite $40 trillion in global IT spend, productivity hasn’t improved since 2008—and now the workforce is shrinking. Mihir argues that doubling productivity isn’t a moonshot—it’s an economic necessity, and AI is our best shot.Change Doesn’t Come from the Top—It Starts with Teams - Transformation doesn’t begin in the boardroom. Mihir shares how just 2 out of 10 employees experimenting with AI can ignite org-wide momentum—if they’re given ambitious goals, proper training, and permission to lead.Upskill the World, One Community at a Time - From the Mississippi Delta to Nepal, Mihir’s upskilling efforts prove that AI fluency doesn’t require a degree—just access. With the right training, someone flipping burgers can land a $120K AI job in three months. Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t.LinkedIn: Mihir Shukla | LinkedInAutomation Anywhere: The Leading Agentic Process Automation System | Automation Anywhere00:00 Introduction to Mihir Shukla & Automation Anywhere01:20 Vision for Autonomous Enterprises03:03 Reimagining Work Processes04:17 Principles of Automation06:12 Challenges and Solutions in AI Adoption09:15 The Importance of AI in Modern Workplaces21:31 Studying and Rethinking Work26:55 The Challenge of Adapting to AI-Powered Workflows27:55 The Impact of AI on Task Management31:24 AI in Customer Service and HR Operations33:03 The Strategic Value of AI in Finance37:30 The Social Impact of AI and Upskilling Initiatives40:40 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How Mihir Shukla Is Reimagining Work With 300 Million AI Agents (and Counting) |
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelinJeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
15/4/2025
48:47
Eric Porres is Rewiring Logitech’s Org for the AI Age. First; he trained 800 people himself.
In this episode, Eric Porres, the newly appointed Global Head of AI at Logitech, walks us through his mission to transform a 7,000-person organization into a team of AI-fluent knowledge workers. He shares what his first 100 days looked like—from running a company-wide GenAI survey to personally training over 800 colleagues—and how those efforts laid the foundation for a scalable, human-centered AI strategy.Eric talks about building a culture of “augmented intelligence,” not just through tooling, but through habits, champions, and real behavioural change. He shares practical frameworks—like using AI to improve your prompts, embracing long-form instructions, and designing with role-context-task-output in mind—and explains why measuring success goes beyond usage stats to include depth of interaction and employee NPS.The conversation also looks ahead to the agentic future: personalized AI teammates, embedded workflows, and custom knowledge bases. Whether you’re leading AI at a global company or just trying to help your team get started, this episode is full of real-world insights on how to move from AI hype to meaningful adoption.Key Takeaways:AI Fluency Starts with Behaviour, Not Just Tools – Eric’s approach isn’t about pushing more AI - t’s about teaching people how to think differently. From measuring conversation depth to rewriting prompt habits, Logitech is focused on real behavioural change.Train 800, Influence 7,000 – Before becoming Head of AI, Eric trained 800+ colleagues himself. That grassroots effort - combined with identifying “quiet champions” across teams- created the internal momentum for company-wide transformation.Build the Right Interface, Not Just the Right Model – A powerful insight: it’s not which model you use, it’s how people interact with it. Logitech prioritized intuitive, user-friendly AI experiences to meet employees where they work.From Individual Fluency to Agentic Teams – Looking ahead, Eric envisions a world where employees work alongside custom AI agents. The future isn’t just prompt mastery - it’s knowing what to delegate, what to own, and how to manage an AI-augmented team.LinkedIn: Eric Porres | LinkedInLogitech: logitech.com/Eric's website: PorresPsychedelic GPT: Trippin' The Chat FantasticThese screenshots showcase how Eric Porres organizes AI research using NotebookLM, as discussed in the episode.NotebookLM Dashboard: NotebookLM Dashboard - Eric PorresNotebookLM Research: NotebookLM Research - March 9-15, 2025 00:00 Intro to Eric Porres 00:46 What the First 100 Days Look Like as Head of AI01:51 Measuring AI Adoption: Surveys, Usage & Quality05:34 Training 800 Colleagues: How Eric Taught AI Mastery19:50 From Side Role to Head of AI: Eric’s Transition Story23:02 Scaling AI Across Teams: Tools, Access & Equity28:56 Choosing the Right Model for the Right Job30:28 Measuring Success: NPS, Feedback, and Real Usage32:05 The Rise of AI Champions and Teaching as Proof of Mastery34:31 Beyond Fluency: Preparing for the Agentic Future36:45 Atomizing Workflows: Making AI Work for You39:10 AI in Sales & Customer Service: The Agent Use Case43:26 Personal Knowledge Bases and AI-Augmented Thinking50:49 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Eric Porres is Rewiring Logitech’s Org for the AI Age. First; he trained 800 people himself.
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelinJeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
03/4/2025
56:20
How Blair Vermette Went from AI Skeptic to a Pioneer of Viral AI Videos
In this episode, Blair Vermette, founder of Rabbit Hole, shares his remarkable journey from traditional television production to the forefront of AI-powered creativity. Initially sceptical - frustrated, even - by AI’s impact on creative industries, Blair found himself at a crossroads. Instead of resisting, he leaned in, exploring AI’s potential and ultimately redefining what was possible in storytelling.Blair walks us through the creation of his viral Adidas spec ad, Floral, the project that propelled him into the AI spotlight and reshaped his career. He discusses the challenges of scaling Rabbit Hole, the unpredictability of AI-generated content, and how his background in editing and directing gave him a unique edge in the space.A natural storyteller, Blair introduces his philosophy of “breaking the spine”-thinking conventional story structures to craft unexpected, engaging narratives. He also shares insights on curation vs. creation, the role of human instinct in working with AI, and the future of creativity in an era where technology is rapidly changing the game.Key Takeaways:Curation is as Vital as Creation – AI doesn’t replace creativity; it enhances it. Blair emphasizes that knowing how to curate and refine AI-generated content is just as important as generating it.Spec Ads Can Open Doors – Blair’s Adidas Floral campaign proved that self-initiated projects can be career-defining, attracting industry attention and unlocking new opportunities.Instinct and Storytelling Still Matter – While AI can generate stunning visuals, human intuition, taste, and storytelling structure remain irreplaceable in making content truly compelling.Adapting to AI is Crucial for Creatives – AI is reshaping creative industries, and those who embrace experimentation and evolve their skill sets will be best positioned for success.Breaking the Spine Unlocks Originality – Blair challenges traditional storytelling structures by disrupting linear narratives, starting in unexpected places, and reshaping story arcs to keep audiences engaged.Adidas Spec Ad: BlairVermette/AdidasAdBlair's Instagram: Blair Vermette (@_blairvermette) • Rabbithole: RABBITHOLE | creative studioLinkedIn: (10) Blair Vermette | LinkedIn00:00 Introduction to Blair and Rabbit Hole00:25 Blair's Journey into Generative AI01:53 The Impact of Generative AI on Creativity04:35 Creating 'My Name is Gary'07:51 The Cost and Constraints of Traditional Animation14:38 The Making of the Adidas Spec Ad19:02 The Viral Success and Its Aftermath24:08 Scaling Up to Meet Demand27:20 The Dilemma of Building a Team 28:55 The Importance of Instinct and Originality29:48 Professionalism in Creative Work30:16 Leveraging AI in Storytelling34:50 The Value of Obsession and Specificity36:02 Entrepreneurial Ideas for Creative Growth44:02 Breaking the Story Spine48:18 Navigating the AI Transition50:58 Final Reflections and Encouragement📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How Blair Vermette Went from AI Skeptic to a Pioneer of Viral AI Videos |
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelinJeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
Acerca de Beyond The Prompt - How to use AI in your company
Beyond the Prompt dives deep into the world of AI and its expanding impact on business and daily work. Hosted by Jeremy Utley of Stanford's d.school, alongside Henrik Werdelin, an entrepreneur known for starting BarkBox, prehype and other startups, each episode features conversations with innovators and leaders to uncover pragmatic stories of how organizations leverage AI to accelerate success. Learn creative strategies and actionable tactics you can apply right away as AI capabilities advance exponentially.
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