The Neuron: AI Explained

Steve Brown's house burned down in a wildfire—and accidentally saved his life. When doctors missed his aggressive blood cancer for over a year, Steve built a swarm of AI agents that diagnosed it in minutes and helped design his treatment. Now he's turning that breakthrough into CureWise, a precision oncology platform helping cancer patients become better advocates. We explore agentic medicine, AI safety in healthcare, and how swarms of specialized AI agents are changing cancer care from diagnosis to treatment selection.🔗 Get on the CureWise waitlist: https://curewise.com📧 Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.ai

Illia Polosukhin, co-author of Attention Is All You Need and co-founder of NEAR Protocol, believes today's centralized AI ecosystem is broken. In this episode, he explains why User-Owned AI is the path forward — making systems private, verifiable, and aligned with users rather than corporations. We explore confidential computing, interoperable AI agents, and what a more sustainable AI future might really look like.Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://www.theneurondaily.com

Thomson Reuters just launched Deep Research—an AI system that doesn't just search legal databases, but plans and strategizes like an experienced attorney. In this episode, we explore how one of the world's largest legal research companies is using AI agents to transform how lawyers work, the challenges of building AI for high-stakes legal decisions, and what this means for the future of knowledge work. CTO Joel Hron shares insights from testing with 1,200+ customers, tackling hallucination risks in legal settings, and building professional-grade AI systems.Resources mentioned: Thomson Reuters Deep Research: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thomson-reuters-launches-cocounsel-legal-transforming-legal-work-with-agentic-ai-and-deep-research-302521761.html Westlaw & KeyCite: https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/products/westlaw/keycite Claude Code for development: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code LinkedIn: Joel HronThomson Reuters Medium blog: https://medium.com/tr-labs-ml-engineering-blog Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.ai

Today we go deeper on Google's AI stack with Logan Kilpatrick: what AI Studio is great at, how it fits with Firebase/Colab/Gemini CLI/Jules, and where "thinking" models make sense. We cover real-world workflows—from game prototyping and screen-share assistance to legal/privacy basics and on-device micro-apps. Logan shares his insights on vibe coding, the future of AI development, and Google's open-source strategy with Gemma models.Resources mentioned:Google AI Studio: https://aistudio.google.com/Gemini CLI: https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cliKaggle Game Arena: https://www.kaggle.com/competitionsGoogle Firebase: https://firebase.google.com/Gemma models: https://ai.google.dev/gemmaSubscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.ai

What does it take to steer a 3,500-person company into the age of generative AI? ZoomInfo founder and CEO Henry Schuck joins us to unpack the company's journey from data powerhouse to AI-first GTM platform, the cultural shifts that enabled it, and the hard-won lessons any leader can borrow. We explore how they reduced teams from 26 to 2 people using AI agents, why 2/3 of employees now use AI daily, and the critical role of data infrastructure in AI success.Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.aiLearn more about ZoomInfo: https://www.zoominfo.com

What does "AI governance" really entail, and why does it matter right now? Credo AI founder Navrina Singh joins The Neuron to unpack risk buckets, Model Trust Scores, and the regulatory zig-zag between the EU and the U.S.—so you can move fast without crashing the car. We dive into open source safety, agent governance, and test OpenAI's brand new open source model live.Learn more about AI governance: https://credo.ai/resourcesSubscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.ai

A lot of people aren't sure whether they should just chat with an AI model, craft a structured prompt, spin up a project, or unleash a full-blown agent. In this episode, we break down the differences between these approaches and share a practical decision-making framework. We'll show how simple prompts excel for quick, isolated tasks, why structured prompts improve clarity and focus, when a project (workflow) is better for predictable, repeatable processes, and where autonomous agents shine for dynamic, open-ended problems. Along the way we'll demo real examples, share tips for avoiding unnecessary complexity, and help listeners decide which tool fits their use case.Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.ai

In this hands-on episode, Corey and Grant attempt to build three different AI apps in one hour using Google AI Studio - with zero coding experience required. They create an Inbox Zero email organizer, a meme generator that roasts their photos, and a spontaneous adventure planner with interactive maps. Watch as they navigate errors, discover workarounds, and prove that anyone can build functional AI apps without being a developer.Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.aiOriginal article: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/googles-ai-makes-you-appsRead more: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/how-to-build-an-ai-agent-part-one-testing-googles-firebase-studio-ai-agent-builderGoogle AI Studio:⁠ https://aistudio.google.com⁠NoCodeMBA Tutorial: https://youtu.be/ANth52yyr9U?si=L9iT1-eYgB8nOfrgAlternative builders mentioned:- Lovable:⁠ https://lovable.dev⁠- Claude Artifacts:⁠ https://claude.ai⁠- V0 by Vercel:⁠ https://v0.dev⁠- Bolt.new:⁠ https://bolt.new⁠

OpenAI just dropped ChatGPT Agent, and we test it LIVE for the first time. Watch as we put this "true" AI agent through its paces - from finding the perfect Gibson Les Paul to building competitive intelligence reports. We explore what makes this different from Zapier-style automation, demonstrate real-world use cases, and discuss why this might be the beginning of America's first super app. Plus: can it actually convince Corey's wife he needs a new guitar?Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.aiOriginal article: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/openais-new-agent-is-hereRead More: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/how-to-build-your-own-ai-agent-without-being-a-pro-coderhttps://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/operator-book-me-some-clientsChatGPT Agent: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-agent/ N8N: https://n8n.io/

Headlines scream that AI is "breaking the classroom," but is the story that simple? In this episode we explore the real cracks in today's education system, how AI sometimes widens them, and—more importantly—how the same technology could personalize learning, free teachers to teach, and shift schools from rote memorization to true mastery. We discuss the UCLA "CheatGPT" controversy, MIT's brain study, Alpha School's 2-hour learning model, and OpenAI's new $10M teacher training initiative.Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.aiWTF is going on with AI and education: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/wtf-is-going-on-with-ai-and-educationOne Useful Thing (Ethan Mollick) Post-apocalyptic education: https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/post-apocalyptic-education MIT study: https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/ Ethan Mollick again, “Against brain damage”: https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/against-brain-damage  OpenAI working with teachers union: https://openai.com/global-affairs/aft/ Make it Stick book: https://www.makeitstick.com/

Will AI turbocharge our output—or erode our standards in the rush to automate? In this episode, strategist Andreas Welsch (ex-SAP, author of The AI Leadership Handbook) joins Corey Noles and Grant Harvey to weigh the promise of higher productivity against the peril of slipping quality. Expect plain-language insights on agentic AI, governance that scales, and the human skills and metrics that reveal whether AI is lifting the bar—or lowering it.Guest: Andreas Welsch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasmwelschAI Leadership Handbook: https://www.aileadershiphandbook.com/order What's the BUZZ? Podcast: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcast The AI MEMO Newsletter: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletterWork with Andreas (AI strategy, workshops, training): https://www.intelligence-briefing.com OWASP Top 10 LLMs: https://owasp.org/www-project-top-10-for-large-language-model-applications/There are no new ideas in AI, only new datasets: https://blog.jxmo.io/p/there-are-no-new-ideas-in-ai-only N8N to start automating your own tasks (not a promo; this is just the best tool for the job): https://n8n.io/ or https://n8n.io/workflows for template workflows to try. The Neuron Newsletter: https://www.theneuron.ai

In Ep 3 we explore DeepSeek's open-source R-series models that claim GPT-4-level performance at a fraction of the cost. We unpack whether you can realistically run DeepSeek on a laptop, where it beats (and lags) OpenAI, and the serious security implications of using Chinese AI services. Listeners will learn the economics, hardware realities, and safe alternatives for using these powerful open-source models.How to pick the best AI for what you actually need: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/how-to-pick-the-best-ai-model-for-what-you-actually-needArtificial Analysis to compare top AI models: https://artificialanalysis.ai/ Previous coverage of DeepSeek: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/deepseek-returns https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/10-wild-deepseek-demoshttps://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/deepseek-r2-could-crush-ai-economics-with-97-lower-costs-than-gpt-4 U.S. Military allegations against DeepSeek: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/deepseek-aids-chinas-military-evaded-export-controls-us-official-says-2025-06-23/ ChatGPT data privacy concerns: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/your-chatgpt-logs-are-no-longer-private-and-everyones-freaking-out OpenAI’s response to NYT lawsuit demands: https://openai.com/index/response-to-nyt-data-demands/ How to run Open source models: Go to Hugging Face for the models: https://huggingface.co/ Use Ollama or LM Studio (our recommendation) to run the model locally: https://ollama.com/ https://lmstudio.ai/

In Ep 2 we ask: "Panic or Progress? Reading Between the Lines of AI Safety Tests." We unpack the recent Claude Opus 4 "blackmail" test result, OpenAI's new transparency pledge, and why safety evaluations sometimes sound scarier than they are. Listeners will leave with a clear framework for interpreting headline-grabbing safety reports—and practical advice on when to worry, when to wait, and how to separate red flags from red herrings.

Will AI really erase half of all white-collar jobs, as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns? We unpack the numbers, the hype, and the hidden opportunities, then hand the mic to Microsoft's Alexia Cambon for fresh research on how to thrive in an AI-saturated workday. Listeners will learn how roles are shifting, which skills stay scarce, and concrete moves to keep their careers future-proof.

After a long wait, Apple is finally in the game with AI. They’re launching Apple Intelligence with MacOS Sequoia and iOS 18. Pete breaks down some top features and how our devices will change moving forward. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

The US government is opening up antitrust inquiries into the likes of Nvidia, OpenAI and Microsoft. Who's leading the charge, and what could they be looking at? Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com ⁠Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Former OpenAI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner has released a series of essays talking about how he sees AI playing out and what we should all do about it. Pete digs into his extremely impressive background and his arguments around why we’re about to get AGI. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has announced their next line of products called Rubin as Nvidia races to build what he calls “intelligence factories”. Pete breaks down the big picture and what it all means for us. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Anthropic did something no other AI lab has done: cracked the code on what’s happening while an AI model is working. Pete breaks down the latest research and what it means for steering AI models. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai

Microsoft’s launch event for Copilot+ PCs was only available to press and content creators. Pete’s taking you through the launch, what stands out and what to look for next. Transcripts: ⁠https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast⁠ Subscribe to the best newsletter on AI: ⁠https://theneurondaily.com⁠ Listen to The Neuron: https://lnk.to/theneuron Watch The Neuron on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@theneuronai