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Technology

Humans in the Loop

Seb Agertoft

Humans in the Loop, hosted by Seb Agertoft, is a podcast for thoughtful technologists asking the hard questions at the intersection of technology and society.

Guests include founders, investors, researchers, artists, policymakers and even a Zen Master, covering topics like the AI bubble debate, tech sovereignty, the Chinese tech industry, radicalisation and conspiracy theories, AGI, quantum computing, technology and democracy, the future of work, and much more.

Seb is a coach to tech company founders and leadership teams. You can find out more about his work at www.theuncommonfounder.com

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  • 22 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 55 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • Sep 8, 2025 · 44 min

    Granola AI Co-founder Sam Stephenson on designing for AI and Human Agency

    This episode features Sam Stephenson, co-founder of ⁠Granola⁠ - one of the standout UK success stories in AI product building. Sam and I discussed his background as a designer, his journey to becoming a founder, the trajectory of the company so far, and shares his thoughts on designing for human agency and the future of work. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Granola and Its Purpose 02:33 Sam's Background and Design Journey 05:19 Influences from Communal Living 09:36 The Origin of Granola and Co-founder Dynamics 12:01 The Messy Process of Finding the Right Project 16:12 Simplicity in Product Design 19:11 Growth Trajectory and User Experience 21:45 Balancing Short-term and Long-term Goals 24:12 Navigating AI Development Challenges 26:50 Balancing Innovation and Practicality in AI 29:16 The Pressure of Rapid Growth in AI Startups 32:43 The Future of Work with AI Assistance 36:51 Reducing Coordination Complexity in Organizations 38:28 The Human Element in AI Interactions 41:01 Agency and Control in the Age of AI 43:31 Envisioning a High-Leverage Future with AI

  • Aug 5, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

    Artist founders and figuring out what AI is really for

    In this conversation, I speak to William Morgan and Sylvan Rackham, the Co-Founders of Restless Egg, an incubator for Artist Founders, about the intersection of art, technology, and innovation. They discuss the concept of the 'artist founder', the challenges faced by creative technologists, and the need for a supportive infrastructure to foster their ideas. The conversation explores the role of institutions, funding sources, and the future of technology, particularly in relation to AI. They emphasize the importance of agency in technology and the potential for artist founders to create meaningful experiences that go beyond mere productivity enhancements. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Restless Egg 01:21 Artist founders 04:18 Discovering the Community of Creators 10:10 Key Players in the Artist Founder Ecosystem 14:37 The Role of Philosophy and Technology 20:31 Bridging Art and Technology 25:32 Defining the Artist Founder 28:24 The Future of AI and Experience 29:20 The Role of Artist Founders in E-commerce 32:41 Funding the Creative Frontier 36:58 The Shift in Investment Perspectives 41:03 The Future of Technology and Agency 44:29 AI: Tool or Evolutionary Break? 51:45 The Playful Nature of Innovation 58:59 Empowering Agency Through Technology Where you can hear more from William and Sylvan www.restlessegg.com William's substack Some of the organisations mentioned: Antikythera Restless Egg Strelka Medialab Some of the people mentioned: Benjamin Bratton Refik Anadol Daisy Ginsberg Ian Cheng Other resources referenced: Sam Altman blog post about ideas people My post about Creative Outsiders A piece written by friend and collaborator, Danya Shults An artificial history of natural intelligence

Showing 21–22 of 22 episodes