Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXUnlock 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/MikeBirdTechObsidian: https://obsidian.md/Mike's Stack: https://github.com/MikeBirdTech/stackDataview Plugin: https://obsidian.md/plugins?id=dataviewConnect with mehttps://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech 00:00:00 - Intro00:00:52 - Which LLM Should You Use?00:04:17 - How to Build a "Digital Brain" in Obsidian00:12:40 - Voice Transcription: The Biggest Productivity Unlock00:17:59 - Building Custom Automations with AI Coding00:32:06 - Using AI as a Thought PartnerSubscribe 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.
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Fundamentals of AI Tooling (ft Hai Nghiem)
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXFeeling 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/MikeBirdTechhttps://x.com/haithehuman00:00:00 - Intro00:01:05 - Context Engineering vs Prompt Engineering00:03:36 - AI Agents vs Workflows00:20:56 - MCP (Model Context Protocol) Explained00:29:58 - Getting Started with Claude Code00:38:49 - The Power of Browser-Based AI Agents00:48:50 - 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.
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Why Open Source AI Will Win (ft Alignment Lab)
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXOpen 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/r7NaHJZxCRhttps://x.com/alignment_labConnect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/alignment_lab00:00:00 - Intro00:01:52 - 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 Privacy00:25:13 - What You Can Do With a Home AI Lab00:32:01 - The Future of Personalized AI Assistants00:35:51 - How to Help the Open Source AI MovementSubscribe 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.
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Advanced Claude Code (ft Ray Fernando and Eric Buess)
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXUnlock 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 FernandoTwitter: https://x.com/RayFernando1337YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCq_MHfMX5FBBB3bqnJPAEzA Website: https://raytranscribes.com/Guest: Eric BuessTwitter: https://x.com/EricBuessClaude Code Docs Repo: https://github.com/ericbuess/claude-code-docsConnect with us https://x.com/ToolUseAI https://x.com/MikeBirdTech https://x.com/RayFernando1337https://x.com/EricBuess00:00:00 - Intro00:01:37 - Optimal Claude Code Setup00:05:07 - YOLO Mode: Dangerously Skip Permissions00:07:07 - Thinking Modes & Context Management00:15:52 - Hook Workflow00:23:47 - Hooks vs. Slash Commands00:30:32 - How the Pros Use Sub-AgentsSubscribe 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.
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How to Build Secure MCP Servers (ft Craig McLuckie)
Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaXUnlock 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/Uhz3VshErvCraig's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigmcluckie/Connect with ushttps://x.com/ToolUseAIhttps://x.com/MikeBirdTechhttps://x.com/cmcluck00:00:00 - Intro00:03:35 - What is ToolHive?00:06:21 - How ToolHive Helps Developers in Production00:13:13 - How the Community Guides the ToolHive Roadmap00:22:03 - Gaps in Current AI Infrastructure00:31:26 - Will API Keys Survive the AI Age?00:47:18 - A New Mindset for Thriving in AISubscribe 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
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