I Shouldn’t Have to Tell the Intelligence

Michael and Damashe explore what happens when AI tools are asked to work instead of simply answer questions. Damashe shares his experiences using ChatGPT to reorganize a Numbers spreadsheet, Claude to manage email, and an AI-assisted product search that produced a very convincing but completely inaccurate hard drive price.

That leads to a larger question: If you ask AI to research something, should you also have to tell it to search the web and verify the information? They discuss the rough edges of today’s AI agents, why this period feels like the early days of personal computing, and whether these tools will eventually become reliable enough to work without constant supervision.

They also talk about software companies rewarding new customers instead of loyal ones, VoiceOver and Zoom frustrations, sharing health data with AI, configuring ChatGPT and Codex on the Mac, repurposing computers as servers, and the photo they forgot to take when they finally met in person.

In This Episode

  • Discounts for new customers versus rewards for existing customers
  • VoiceOver keyboard commands that stop working until the Mac is restarted
  • Using whois and dig to look up domain information
  • Zoom’s loud and repetitive notifications
  • Rising computer and storage prices
  • Using ChatGPT to reorganize a Numbers spreadsheet
  • Comparing ChatGPT computer use with Claude’s computer-control features
  • Organizing email through Fastmail and MCP
  • The permissions Codex needs to control apps on macOS
  • An imaginary 24-terabyte hard drive deal that was too good to be true
  • Why AI research should include checking the original source
  • Whether we are living through the early personal-computer era of AI
  • Asking one AI to review another AI’s work
  • Giving AI access to Apple Health and years of health data
  • Continuous glucose monitors and accessible glucose tracking
  • Apple Watch reminders, workout encouragement, and handwashing alerts
  • Customizing the ChatGPT app’s keyboard shortcuts
  • Moving keyboard focus to the main chat composer with Shift+Escape
  • Repurposing a Mac mini and mini PC as home and office servers
  • Moving Plex and an audiobook library to Linux
  • Why the show is not getting any shorter

Links and Resources

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