Tool Use - AI Conversations

Mike Bird

The latest AI tools and strategies, featuring top builders, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Every Tuesday, get actionable knowledge about AI services that you can use today. - Conversations with AI builders and founders - Practical tips for applying AI immediately - Live demos of cutting-edge AI products - Deep dives into open-source projects Join us as we explore the rapidly evolving AI landscape and discover tools that transform productivity, creativity, and business. Subscribe now and stay ahead of the AI curve

  1. Are AI Agents Ready for the Internet? (ft Bobbie Chen)

    2 DAYS AGO

    Are AI Agents Ready for the Internet? (ft Bobbie Chen)

    Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Are you ready for AI agents to browse the web? We explore the future of AI agent authentication, web security, and API design in this deep dive. As AI agents proliferate, critical questions arise: how do we handle security without giving an agent your password? How can we make websites optimized for agent consumption? We're joined by Bobbie Chen, a product manager at Stytch specializing in bot and AI agent detection, to discuss the risks and opportunities. We cover how OAuth can provide safer, scoped permissions for agents, and the emerging open standard Web Bot Auth, which allows agents to cryptographically prove their identity. Bobbie breaks down Simon Willison's "lethal trifecta" of AI security risks and discusses strategies for mitigating malicious behavior. We also touch on the future of AI SEO, how API design must evolve for a hybrid human-agent world, and the potential impact of agents on web monetization and advertising. Learn more from Bobbie Chen: Stytch supports Web Bot Auth: https://stytch.com/blog/stytch-supports-web-bot-auth Stytch Connected Apps (OAuth for AI agents): https://stytch.com/connected-apps Stytch Fraud and Risk Prevention: stytch.com/fraud AGI Builders Meetup: https://luma.com/agibuilders IsAgent SDK for agent identification: https://IsAgent.dev Additional Resources from the episode: Simon Willison's lethal trifecta: https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/16/the-lethal-trifecta IETF Web Bot Auth: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/bofreq-nottingham-web-bot-auth/ Jon Postel as "benevolent dictator" of IANA: http://memex.org/meme4-01.html Freestyle Cloud: https://www.freestyle.sh Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:25 - The Risks of AI Agents Browsing the Web 00:07:14 - A Bot Registry vs. Open Protocols 00:18:04 - How AI Will Change Web Monetization & Ads 00:35:03 - The "Lethal Trifecta" of AI Security 00:41:25 - Practical Advice for Website Owners & Agent Devs Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI security. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive.

    46 min
  2. Advanced AI Prompting (ft Michael Tiffany & Ty Fiero)

    16 SEPT

    Advanced AI Prompting (ft Michael Tiffany & Ty Fiero)

    Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Master advanced prompting techniques and meta prompting in this deep dive into AI context engineering. As AI models evolve, the way we interact with them becomes more critical than ever. Prompting is no longer about simple questions; it's a skill that separates mediocre results from magical ones. In Episode 57, we're joined by Michael Tiffany, founder and CEO of Fulcra, and AI consultant Ty Fiero to explore the strategies that unlock an AI's full potential. Discover why prompts are more important than ever, how to tailor your requests for specific models like GPT-5 and Claude, and why a "high agency" attitude is the key to getting great outputs. We discuss practical methods like iterative prompting, using one AI to critique another's work, and asking the model itself how to create the perfect prompt. Learn how to avoid AI sycophancy, the power of multimodal prompting with images, and how to right-size tasks for complex projects. Whether you're a developer using vibe coding or just want to get better answers from ChatGPT, this conversation will change how you talk to AI. Guests: Michael Tiffany, Founder and CEO of Fulcra https://www.fulcra.ai https://x.com/kubla Ty Fiero, AI Consultant https://x.com/FieroTy Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/kubla https://x.com/FieroTy 00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:02 - The High-Agency Prompting Mindset 00:10:36 - Techniques for Reducing AI Bias 00:19:10 - Meta-Prompting: Having AI Write Your Prompts 00:23:12 - How to Build Prompting Intuition 00:30:00 - AI for Spec-Driven Development Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and prompting. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive.

    50 min
  3. Build A Full Stack App With One Prompt (ft. Richard Abrich)

    9 SEPT

    Build A Full Stack App With One Prompt (ft. Richard Abrich)

    Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Build full-stack apps from a single prompt with Fastable, the revolutionary AI tool from AI consultant Richard Abrich. In this episode, we dive deep into how you can go from an idea to a deployed web application using AI, and learn how Richard built the tool to accelerate his own development workflows. Richard shares his expert approach to context engineering, hallucination mitigation, and creating a powerful feedback loop by piping logs directly into the AI agent to debug and iterate faster than ever. We explore Fastable's tech stack (FastAPI, Python, React, Postgres) and how it offers a more flexible, vanilla alternative to tools like Lovable, giving developers the control they need. If you're interested in AI-powered development, the future of disposable software, or building your own tools to solve real problems, this is a conversation you can't miss. Try Fastable for yourself: https://fastable.dev Connect with us https://x.com/ToolUsePodcast https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/abrichr 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:57 - Fastable's Tech Stack vs Lovable 00:07:33 - Context Engineering for Non-Technical Users 00:17:32 - Fastable Demo 00:31:08 - Mitigating AI Hallucination 00:45:53 - The Future of Disposable Software Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI development. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive.

    50 min
  4. How I Use AI for REAL Productivity Gains

    2 SEPT

    How I Use AI for REAL Productivity Gains

    Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Unlock massive productivity gains with AI and get hours of your life back. In Episode 55, after 10 years as a software developer with the last three focused on AI, I'm sharing the secrets to my personal productivity system. Learn how to leverage multiple LLMs, build a "digital brain" with Obsidian that goes beyond a simple second brain, and create hyper-custom automations to focus on what truly matters. I'll walk you through my complete setup, from the AI models I use daily (like Claude and local models) to the hardware and software I use to interface with my computer, including powerful voice transcription workflows. We'll cover how to use AI coding assistants to build your own scripts, essential terminal utilities that will speed up your workflow, and the specific media tools I use for tasks outside my expertise. This is the ultimate guide to leveling up your productivity with AI. Mike's GitHub: https://github.com/MikeBirdTech Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/ Mike's Stack: https://github.com/MikeBirdTech/stack Dataview Plugin: https://obsidian.md/plugins?id=dataview Connect with me https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:52 - Which LLM Should You Use? 00:04:17 - How to Build a "Digital Brain" in Obsidian 00:12:40 - Voice Transcription: The Biggest Productivity Unlock 00:17:59 - Building Custom Automations with AI Coding 00:32:06 - Using AI as a Thought Partner Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and automation. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive.

    38 min
  5. Fundamentals of AI Tooling (ft Hai Nghiem)

    26 AUG

    Fundamentals of AI Tooling (ft Hai Nghiem)

    Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX Feeling intimidated by AI tooling? This is the perfect place to start. Join us for a deep dive into AI agent fundamentals with expert educator Hai Ngheim. We break down complex topics like context engineering, explaining why it's a more useful term than prompt engineering. Learn the key differences between an AI Agent and a workflow, and discover when to use each for maximum efficiency. We demystify Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), explaining why it’s fundamentally a search problem, not just a vector database issue. Explore the future of AI interoperability with the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the "USB-C for agents" , and see how it simplifies building with AI. For those intimidated by the command line, we offer tips on getting started with powerful tools like Claude Code. This episode covers the fundamentals of deep research , browser-use agents , and what makes a "deep agent" capable of producing high-value output. If you've heard these buzzwords online , this is the explanation you've been waiting for to help you integrate these powerful AI tools into your life. Guest Links: Check out Hai's Agent Engineering Bootcamp: https://maven.com/agent-lab/agent-engineering-bootcamp Check out AGI Ventures Canada on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-beginning-hai-nghiem-swnsc/ Connect with us  https://x.com/ToolUseAI  https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/haithehuman 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:05 - Context Engineering vs Prompt Engineering 00:03:36 - AI Agents vs Workflows 00:20:56 - MCP (Model Context Protocol) Explained 00:29:58 - Getting Started with Claude Code 00:38:49 - The Power of Browser-Based AI Agents 00:48:50 - What Are Deep Agents? Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and AI Agents. Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts, brought to you by ToolHive.

    54 min
  6. Why Open Source AI Will Win (ft Alignment Lab)

    19 AUG

    Why Open Source AI Will Win (ft Alignment Lab)

    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.

    43 min
  7. Advanced Claude Code (ft Ray Fernando and Eric Buess)

    12 AUG

    Advanced Claude Code (ft Ray Fernando and Eric Buess)

    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.

    48 min
  8. How to Build Secure MCP Servers (ft Craig McLuckie)

    5 AUG

    How to Build Secure MCP Servers (ft Craig McLuckie)

    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

    55 min
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The latest AI tools and strategies, featuring top builders, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Every Tuesday, get actionable knowledge about AI services that you can use today. - Conversations with AI builders and founders - Practical tips for applying AI immediately - Live demos of cutting-edge AI products - Deep dives into open-source projects Join us as we explore the rapidly evolving AI landscape and discover tools that transform productivity, creativity, and business. Subscribe now and stay ahead of the AI curve

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