1 day ago

#178 – I Just Don’t Want to Do It

Technically Working 178: I Just Don’t Want to Do It

Show Notes

Michael and Damashe start out talking about GPT 6 and the ways AI has moved beyond being something interesting to experiment with and into something they actually use to get work done. Damashe shares how ChatGPT helped him troubleshoot a machine by finding and working through the documentation, while Michael talks about using computer use to handle WordPress changes and other tasks he already knows how to do but, as he puts it, sometimes just doesn't want to do himself.

That leads into a conversation about when handing work to AI makes sense, when you still need to check its work, and how Michael is limiting access when letting AI work on websites. They also talk about volunteer work, last-minute requests, and Michael's goal of being more selective about the unpaid work he takes on.

Then Michael asks for "no judgment" before revealing his latest purchase: a RØDECaster Pro II. His current mixer is starting to show its age, and the RØDECaster offers dual USB connections, mix-minus, multiple outputs, and the flexibility he wants for live and hybrid audio work. The problem, of course, is accessibility. Michael and Damashe talk through whether the RØDECaster can be made usable through existing workarounds, custom software, computer use, or direct device control.

From there, the AI conversation returns because apparently every website needs an AI now. They consider whether smaller local models could actually be useful inside apps for things like better podcast search without turning every product into another AI chatbot.

With an Apple event approaching, Michael and Damashe make some predictions. A folding iPhone leads to theories about Touch ID, including Damashe's hope that Apple puts it in the Apple logo on the back. They also talk Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV, Siri, what they might buy, and how Apple could handle a major event and a future leadership transition.

Michael has also been relying on Siri more than he expected. Some recent successes with messages, calendar events, and reminders have him wondering how useful Siri could become once third-party apps can expose more of their features.

That naturally turns into what Siri support should look like in a podcast app. Damashe wants simple commands like playing the latest episode of a show, continuing the queue, or moving to the next item. Michael shares some of the Siri work planned for Earshot along with recent player improvements.

They wrap up with more Earshot changes, including easier episode and chapter navigation, folders that survive OPML exports, episode filtering, and finally getting auto-expiring podcasts working.

In This Episode

Using GPT 6 for research, troubleshooting, planning, and everyday work
A free month of Earshot Plus for Technically Working listeners
Letting computer use handle the tasks you know how to do but don't want to do
Reviewing AI work instead of blindly trusting it
Limiting AI access to WordPress sites
Cutting back on last-minute and unpaid work
Michael buys a RØDECaster Pro II
The accessibility problem with modern audio hardware
Could custom software make the RØDECaster accessible?
AI showing up everywhere
Where smaller local AI models might actually be useful
Folding iPhone and Touch ID predictions
Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV, and Siri expectations
Michael starts trusting Siri a little more
What Siri support should look like in a podcast app
New Earshot playback and navigation controls
Preserving folders in OPML exports
Episode filtering and auto-expiring podcasts

Chapters

00:00 - GPT 6, Earshot Plus, and putting AI to work
05:00 - ChatGPT versus the technician
09:50 - Computer use and "I just don't want to do it"
12:51 - Doing less free work
13:54 - No judgment: Michael bought a RØDECaster Pro II
20:00 - Can inaccessible audio gear be made accessible?
26:31 - Everybody has an AI
28:36 - Apple event predictions
34:20 - What Apple hardware are we actually buying?
40:00 - Siri, Apple events, and what comes next
50:00 - Michael is starting to rely on Siri
53:30 - Calendars, reminders, and task apps
56:45 - What should Siri do in a podcast app?
60:00 - New Earshot playback controls
63:20 - OPML folders and different ways of listening to podcasts
65:18 - Filters, auto-expiring podcasts, and finally solving the original problem

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