273 | A weekend special edition: The AI Agent Shell Game

Hello to all ~9700+ of you from around the globe. Thank you for reading and sharing!

Happy Friday, Brainyacts.

I don’t usually do "Special Editions" or pitch other people’s work, but I’ve been so delighted by this lately that I couldn’t wait to share it. If you’re looking for a weekend listen that is equal parts hysterical, educational, and existential, this is it.

You’ve probably heard the claim in the cacophony of AI hype: Sam Altman famously predicted that we are headed toward the "one-person billion-dollar company," where a single founder sits atop a mountain of AI agents.

Journalist Evan Ratliff decided to actually try it. In the podcast Shell Game Season 2, he stitches together a suite of AI agents to help him design and run a real startup.

Why this is a "Brainyacts" must-listen:

If you’ve been a regular reader here, you know my core thesis: LLMs are performing, not doing. When we talk about "agentic AI," it’s easy to get swept up in the promise. But as you listen to Evan’s AI "employees" interact, I want you to pay close attention to that distinction. They aren't "thinking" or "feeling" their way through business problems. They are putting on a world-class performance of what a C-suite executive sounds like.

A few things to keep in mind while you listen:

• The "Dated" Factor: Because this is a heavily produced narrative series, it’s technically "dated." The tools Evan uses have already advanced since he recorded.

• The Glitches are the Point: The "performative" nature of the AI leads to some moments that are flipping hysterical. But don't just laugh. Listen how the "performance" holds up when it hits the friction of the real world. The “Hi, this is Kyle” moment in episode 2 had be on the floor laughing out loud.

• The Existential Side-Effect: While it’s entertaining, it will leave you doing some deep thinking about the work we do and the value we actually bring to the table.

It had me in hysterics, but it also grounded the high-flown VC talk in a very messy, very human reality. It’s the perfect palate cleanser for the "hype vs. doom" cycle.

Listen here: https://www.shellgame.co/ Season two.

Enjoy the weekend, and see you in the next edition.

That is it for now. Talk soon again.

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