Beyond The Prompt - How to use AI in your company

Jeremy Utley & Henrik Werdelin
  • 4.7 (90)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Biweekly

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.

  1. 1d ago

    Whatever You Might Think About AI, You Must Feel Awe: Pulitzer Finalist Robert Wright on “The God Test”

    Robert Wright believes that whether you're excited about AI or terrified of it, you should be feeling some awe. He sees AI as a turning point in the history of life on Earth and explores the possibility of a “global brain” that could become far more intelligent than us. But if we build something that powerful, how do we make sure it works in humanity's favor? Robert explains why managing AI may require international cooperation, and why our own tribal instincts could get in the way. Henrik and Jeremy also explore what happens if things go right, from breakthroughs in science to a world where people might no longer need to work. But what would life actually look like in that future? The conversation turns to the AI companions we choose, and why having one that tells us the truth might matter more than having one that agrees with us. Afterward, Henrik and Jeremy wonder whether AI could help us reconnect with the physical world, and why having more free time doesn't necessarily mean we'll use it well. Key Takeaways:  AI deserves our awe, whether we're excited or afraid.Robert Wright explains why AI could mark a turning point in the history of life on Earth.Managing AI requires more than better technology.Robert argues that global cooperation is essential, but human tribalism could stand in the way.Choose an AI that tells you the truth.Robert warns against AI companions that simply agree with us, and encourages people to actually try the technology.More free time doesn't guarantee a better life.Henrik and Jeremy explore whether AI could help us reconnect with the physical world, and why being present still takes effort.The God Test: Book WebsiteRobert Wright X: X/RobertWrightNonzero: Nonzero.org 00:00 Intro: Could AI Become a God?00:40 Meet Robert Wright01:16 Why AI Deserves Our Awe03:02 Are We Underestimating AI?05:44 The Everyday Miracles of AI07:07 How AI Learns Without Understanding the Brain09:20 AI and the History of Life on Earth13:13 Are Humans Really Less Flawed Than AI?16:41 What Is the God Test?18:12 Why AI Needs Global Cooperation21:36 What Would AI Heaven Look Like?25:12 Would Life Without Work Be Fulfilling?28:55 Why the Future Is Hard to Imagine32:48 AI Alignment vs. What the Market Wants35:07 Choosing an AI That Tells You the Truth37:52 Why You Should Actually Try AI41:47 The Debrief 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Here!   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.

    Whatever You Might Think About AI, You Must Feel Awe: Pulitzer Finalist Robert Wright on “The God Test”

  2. Nov 4

    Beyond the Prompt: The Human Advantage Live AMA

    We're going live on November 11! Henrik will be interviewing Jeremy about his new book, The Human Advantage: What AI Can't Do Without You, followed by a 45-minute AMA.Got questions about AI, entrepreneurship, writing, or anything we've talked about on the pod? Come join us! Here's how to join: Pre-order Jeremy's book and send your receipt to preorders@jeremyutley.com to get your Zoom access code. Pre-order the book here: The Human Advantage  Hope to see you there!   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.

    Beyond the Prompt: The Human Advantage Live AMA

  3. Oct 28

    What Happens When the Jobs Stay but the Work Changes? Refounding Zapier with CEO Wade Foster

    After 15 years of building Zapier, Wade Foster is inviting his team to rethink almost everything. What started as a “code red” response to AI has become an opportunity to rediscover what the company could be. Wade describes the feeling as “10 out of 10 anxiety, but 10 out of 10 fun.” The challenge is getting an entire organization to see the possibilities, especially when change can feel threatening. Wade shares what this looks like inside Zapier, including an experiment to let AI agents handle customer support emails. It turns out that handing work over to AI is much harder than simply adding an assistant to an existing process. The team has spent months figuring out how to make it work, with humans still playing an important role. Henrik, Jeremy, and Wade also explore what it takes to thrive when the old rules no longer apply. They discuss curiosity, resourcefulness, and the instinct to act instead of waiting for instructions. And while Wade is giving his team permission to question everything, the conversation raises a harder question: how do you get people to challenge the way things have always been done when that's exactly what they've been taught to follow?Key Takeaways The work is changing, even when the jobs aren't disappearing.Henrik and Jeremy reflect on Wade's point that AI doesn't necessarily make a role obsolete, but it can fundamentally change what people do in that role.Resourcefulness is becoming a superpower.Henrik and Jeremy discuss why curiosity, adaptability, and the willingness to act without all the answers are increasingly valuable. Sometimes the most important step is realizing you can just build something.Question everything, but bring a better idea.Henrik points out that challenging the way things have always been done is only useful if you're willing to suggest or try something different.You can't refound a company by announcement alone.Jeremy wonders how leaders can make questioning old assumptions part of everyday work. He and Henrik explore why established habits, defaults, and organizational structures can be harder to change than the rules themselves.Wade's LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/wadefosterWade's X: X.com/wadefosterZapier: Zapier.comWade's articles: Zapier.com/wadefoster 00:00 Intro: The Work Is Changing00:48 Meet Wade Foster04:49 Is Your Strategy Too Small for AI?06:14 From Code Red to Refounding Zapier07:31 10/10 Anxiety, 10/10 Fun08:50 How Much Has AI Actually Changed?10:41 Getting People Excited About AI13:56 Why Jobs Are Changing15:34 Rethinking How Work Gets Done16:39 Inside Zapier's AI Support Experiment20:14 When Existing Workflows Break21:45 Identity, Curiosity, and Adaptability25:36 The Instinct to Act Without All the Answers29:39 Stop Waiting for an Assignment33:28 You Can Just Build Something34:43 What Does Refounding Actually Mean?36:40 Giving People Direction Without All the Rules38:36 The Future of Automation at Zapier39:18 Wade's Advice for Refounding a Company41:45 What Would a New CEO Do?43:23 The Debrief 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Here!   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.

    What Happens When the Jobs Stay but the Work Changes? Refounding Zapier with CEO Wade Foster

  4. Oct 14

    ⁠Do You Know Yourself Well Enough to Let AI Make Decisions for You? - with Nicholas Skytland Former NASA chief technologist

    Nicholas Skytland spent 25 years at NASA, where he helped bring people from around the world together through hackathons. He joins Henrik and Jeremy to share what makes hackathons work, why different perspectives matter, and how to help people through the moment they want to give up.Nick is now bringing that approach to kids. When his wife wanted to run an AI hackathon at her school, restrictions on AI tools led Nick and his team to build Launch.Kids. At one event, 36 teams created 500 applications in a single day.Try Launch.Kids: If you're a student, parent, or teacher interested in learning how to build with AI, we'd love for you to try out Launch.Kids, mentioned on the show. The first 100 listeners can sign up at https://launch.kids/welcome/beyondtheprompt for a free month of credit.The conversation then turns to a bigger question: how well do we really know our own values? Nick, Henrik and Jeremy explore how to communicate what matters to us when working with AI, and why we shouldn't hand over our judgment just because technology makes it easy.Key Takeaways Hackathons are an underused toolHenrik and Jeremy reflect on how hackathons bring different people together, encourage experimentation, and create value even when they don't lead to a finished product.Expect the moment of despairGetting stuck is part of building something new. Nick explains why good hackathons need mentors, encouragement, and a bit of fun to help people push through it.The better you know yourself, the better you can use AIHenrik and Jeremy discuss why understanding your own values, preferences, and ways of thinking helps you give AI better direction and recognize when its answers don't fit.Don't let AI do all the thinking for youAI can make decisions easier, but that doesn't mean we should stop questioning its answers. Henrik and Jeremy reflect on the importance of bringing our own judgment to the conversation, especially when we're dealing with something we don't know much about.Launch.Kids: Launch.KidsNicholas' LinkedIn: LinkedIn/NicholasSkytland00:00 Intro: Don't Outsource Your Judgment to AI00:20 Meet Nicholas Skytland00:46 How NASA Opened Up Innovation03:45 Measuring the ROI of Hackathons05:04 Getting Past the Barriers to Open Innovation07:51 Bringing Hackathons to Kids09:19 Building Launch.Kids14:44 Why “Just Play With AI” Isn't Enough18:19 The Moment of Despair21:36 How to Run a Hackathon23:39 The Process, Not the Product25:56 Inside Anthropic's Gathering of Faith Leaders31:33 Be an Active Shaper of AI34:36 Can AI learn good judgement? 39:00 Who Gets to Decide What's Good?42:40 Communicating Your Values to AI44:25 Don't Outsource Your Judgment46:42 Henrik's Personal AI Playbook51:10 The Debrief 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Here!   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.

    ⁠Do You Know Yourself Well Enough to Let AI Make Decisions for You? - with Nicholas Skytland Former NASA chief technologist

  5. Sep 30

    What Will You Do With the Time AI Gives Back to You? - with Alex Kuilman, Founder of The Practice

    Alexander Kuilman works with CEOs and executive teams to bring more humanity into how they lead. He joins Henrik and Jeremy to explore why, if leaders know AI matters, getting people to actually use it can still be so difficult. Using Bob Kegan and Lisa Lahey’s Immunity to Change framework, Alex argues that “I don’t have time” can mask deeper fears about competence, relevance, and what happens when AI can do work you previously thought made you valuable. They also explore why psychological safety matters if people are going to admit what they don’t know and actually experiment. The conversation ends with the “AI vampire” and Alex’s idea of “corporate numbing”: AI makes us more productive, but instead of taking the time back, we often fill it with more work. Which leaves a bigger question: when AI gives us time back, what do we actually want to do with it?Key Takeaways:  AI resistance may be about fear, not time“I don’t have time” can mask deeper fears about competence, relevance, and what happens when AI can do work you thought made you valuable.People need to feel safe enough to experimentPsychological safety gives people room to admit what they don’t know, try something new, and risk looking incompetent.How leaders make people feel mattersHenrik and Jeremy realize that some of the AI leaders they admire don’t just have good tactics. They make people around them feel safe enough to try.Don’t let AI give you more workThe “AI vampire” turns productivity gains into more work. Alex’s idea of “corporate numbing” asks whether staying busy is sometimes easier than deciding what we actually want to do with the time AI gives back. Alex Kuilman (transcript - fina…The Practice: bethepractice.comAlex's LinkedIn: LinkedIn/AlexKuilmanImmunity to Change by Robert Kegan & Lisa LaskowAmy Edmondson on Psychological Safety: Psychological Safety 00:00 Intro: The Problem of Corporate Numbing00:23 Meet Alexander Kuilman04:45 Why Aren’t People Using AI More?06:49 The Hidden Assumptions Blocking Change08:08 Jeremy’s Travel Problem14:12 What Are People Really Afraid of With AI?16:02 Stop Making Time to Experiment22:25 Psychological Safety and AI Adoption32:56 How to Hold Yourself38:57 The Leaders Who Make People Feel Safe40:33 What If AI Helps Us Think Less?44:13 The AI Vampire46:10 Corporate Numbing54:08 Your Humanity Is the Advantage58:05 The Debrief 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Here!   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.

    What Will You Do With the Time AI Gives Back to You? - with Alex Kuilman, Founder of The Practice

  6. Sep 16

    How Do You Run a Company When You Can’t See Six Months Ahead? - with Axios CEO Jim VandeHei

    Jim VandeHei joins Henrik and Jeremy around the launch of his new book, Simplify: Do 50% More With 50% Less, co-authored with Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz. In the conversation, Jim shares how he’s leading Axios through AI, from turning himself into an “AI lab rat” to rethinking how the company works. At Axios, Jim gave everyone access to ChatGPT, brought in training, and invited employees who took naturally to the technology to help others across the company. He also shares how AI fellows working directly with him prototype new ideas, why companies should delete unnecessary work before automating it, and how Axios is preparing for a world where more information moves from the open web into social platforms and personalized LLMs. The conversation ends with a bigger question: what story are we telling people about an AI-enabled future? Jim worries that the negative case for AI is vivid and easy to understand, while the positive case often amounts to curing cancer or eliminating work. He makes the case for something more tangible: using AI to make people’s work and lives better while preserving human connection and the feeling that what people do still matters.Jim's new book: Simplify: Do 50% more with 50% less“Confessions of an AI Lab Rat”: Read here!Axios: Axios.comJim's LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/JimVandeHeiKey Takeaways Leaders need to become AI lab ratsLeaders need firsthand experience with AI to understand what it can do and give others permission to experiment.Give the CEO an AI “SEAL team”Jim’s AI fellows help him prototype ideas quickly, stay current, and experiment outside the normal company processes.Delete before you automateBefore using AI to make existing work faster, ask which meetings, processes, and activities shouldn’t exist at all.AI needs a better story about what goes rightThe negative future of AI is easy to picture. Jim argues we need a more tangible vision of how AI can improve people’s lives without losing purpose and human connection.00:00 Intro: Predictions for the future00:46 Meet Jim VandeHei01:06 Becoming an AI Lab Rat04:21 How Axios Got Everyone Using AI05:46 Who Gets the Most Out of AI?08:27 The AI Understanding Gap11:04 How Jim Keeps Up With AI14:20 Building Axios for an AI Future20:47 The CEO’s AI “SEAL Team”23:52 Writing for Humans and LLMs26:49 Delete Before You Automate30:46 The Monthly Mentality35:58 AI-Assisted Writing and Authenticity41:47 The Coming Political Backlash47:42 A Better Story for AI55:25 The Debrief 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Here!   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.

    How Do You Run a Company When You Can’t See Six Months Ahead? - with Axios CEO Jim VandeHei

  7. Sep 2

    From Knowledge Worker to Intelligence Worker: Why Human Judgment Matters More With AI - with OpenAI’s Brice Challamel

    After helping lead AI adoption at Moderna, Brice Chalamel has a new goal at OpenAI: help create 1,000 AI adoption success stories across large organizations. Brice takes Henrik and Jeremy inside how work happens at OpenAI, where Slack has largely replaced internal email, agents help process information and draft responses, and some workflows are already moving agent to agent. But as AI takes on more responsibility, Brice argues that trust can’t be mandated. It has to be earned. The conversation goes beyond tools into what it actually takes to lead people through change. Brice explains why, in a ten-step journey, nine steps may only be halfway, why our existing mental models shape how we respond to AI, and why leaders need to listen before trying to change someone’s mind. They also explore Brice’s idea that AI could move us from “knowledge workers” to “intelligence workers,” a personal story about his mother using ChatGPT while caring for his father with Alzheimer’s, and why the benefits of AI need to extend beyond the people already living in abundance.Key Takeaways Trust in AI has to be earned As agents take on more responsibility, people need experience with them before they’re willing to hand over judgment and communication. AI adoption is a mind game and a heart game Successful change depends not just on what people know about AI, but on what they believe, fear, and care about. Nine steps can be only halfway there The final stage of transformation is often where the hardest work begins and assumptions need to be questioned. We’re moving from knowledge workers to intelligence workers As AI handles more information processing, human value shifts toward judgment, perspective, influence, and decision-making. Listen before you think Changing minds starts with understanding the experiences and mental models behind someone’s point of view, not simply making a better argument. Brice's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bricechallamel/ Website: powerofwhy.ai 00:00 Intro: From Knowledge Worker to Intelligence Worker00:30 Meet Brice Chalamel01:18 From Moderna to OpenAI04:50 The Mission: 1,000 AI Success Stories07:45 How Work Happens at OpenAI08:59 When Agents Talk to Agents10:56 Trust Has to Be Earned15:22 Brice’s Principles for Change16:45 Nine Steps Is Halfway There25:21 The Mind Game30:24 Why Leaders Resist AI35:28 The Human Side of AI37:37 When ChatGPT Became a Lifeline41:56 From Knowledge Worker to Intelligence Worker43:37 Agency in the AI Era46:31 Who Gets to Benefit From AI?51:39 What Our Fear of AI Reveals56:18 Listen Before You Think01:03:07 The Debrief 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Here!   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.

    From Knowledge Worker to Intelligence Worker: Why Human Judgment Matters More With AI - with OpenAI’s Brice Challamel

  8. Aug 19

    What Happens When AI Adoption Actually Works? - with Eric Porres, Chief AI Officer of Logitech

    A year ago, Logitech had people experimenting with AI. Today, Eric says he can’t think of a single part of the company that isn’t building, exploring, or creating something with it. Eric shares what helped make that happen. There’s a Build Advisor that helps employees figure out what to build and connects them with people who may have already worked on something similar. AI in Action moments are now part of company and leadership meetings. And before leadership presents to the board, there’s an expectation that their work goes through an AI Board Advisor first. Henrik, Jeremy, and Eric also get into what comes next: how to measure whether all this AI activity actually creates value, why Eric built AI systems to manage his own information overload and sleep, and why creating something new should come with another question: what old report, process, or way of working can now disappear?Key Takeaways Embed AI into how work gets done AI becomes more valuable when it’s built into existing workflows and expectations, rather than simply made available for people to use. Make AI adoption visible and repeatable Logitech keeps AI present through AI in Action moments, leadership routines, office hours, shared Gems, and a 175-person volunteer Champions Network. Build resources that help people help themselves Tools like the Build Advisor give employees a place to start, surface work that already exists, and connect them with colleagues who have tackled similar problems. Ask what you can stop doing Eric argues that every new AI-enabled artifact should come with another question: what old report, process, or way of working can now disappear? Eric's website: porres.com/ Eric's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/eporres/ Logitech: www.logitech.com/ 00:00 Embedding AI Into the Workflow00:52 Meet Eric Porres01:15 The Cambrian Explosion of AI06:20 Measuring the Value of AI11:16 The Build Advisor16:12 Keeping Up With AI19:43 Making AI Part of the Culture21:37 The AI Board Advisor25:51 Building an AI Champions Network29:15 Eric’s Personal AI Stack32:17 The AI Vampire Problem40:59 Building a Deep Memory46:49 What Can AI Help You Delete?55:19 The Debrief 📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Here!   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.

    What Happens When AI Adoption Actually Works? - with Eric Porres, Chief AI Officer of Logitech
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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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