Exploring how companies are applying AI in practice.

See the slides at: contraption.co/archetypes-of-llm-apps/

In this presentation, Philip from Contraption Company discusses how startups are leveraging AI, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), to innovate across various industries. The presentation, originally given to an innovation group at a large insurance company, covers foundational technologies like chat, embeddings, and semantic search, and progresses to basic applications such as code generation, SQL generation, and data labeling. Advanced applications like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agents, and swarms are also explored. The aim is to help businesses understand how to apply LLMs effectively, improving efficiency and decision-making in their operations.

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:28 Archetypes of LLM Applications

02:16 Foundational Building Block Technologies

11:41 Basic Applications of LLMs

19:34 Advanced Applications of LLMs

24:59 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Recording of this essay: www.contraption.co/having-a-tj/

Audio recording of this essay: www.contraption.co/distribution-vs-innovation/

In this episode of the Contraption Company Podcast, Philip interviews Taylor Crane, founder of FractionalJobs.io, about the growing trend of fractional work. They discuss Taylor's journey from his previous venture, Clubs Poker, to his current focus on the fractional space, highlighting the benefits and learnings along the way. The conversation explores the definition of fractional work, its advantages, and its impact on productivity and knowledge work. They also delve into the implications for junior workers, the future structuring of tech companies, and the evolving nature of work in a post-pandemic world. Taylor shares insights on how companies can access high-quality talent through fractional roles and the broader potential of fractional work as part of the future of employment.

See full notes on: www.contraption.co/is-fractional-work-the-future/

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:31 Lessons from Clubs Poker
03:51 Defining Fractional Work
05:52 The Rise of Fractional Jobs
08:26 Challenges and Opportunities in Fractional Work
17:13 Future of Work and Fractional Careers
28:27 Second Order Consequences of Fractional Work
34:05 The Appeal of Fractional Work for Employees and Companies
34:32 Tax Benefits and Financial Advantages of Fractional Work
35:39 The Future of Work: Core Teams vs. Fabrication Layers
38:56 Remote Work and Fractional Work: A New Paradigm
44:01 The Flexibility and Autonomy of Fractional Work
47:10 Challenges and Opportunities in Hiring Fractional Workers
55:34 The Vision for the Future of Fractional Work
01:01:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Philip Thomas interviews Ayush Newatia in London about his book, 'The Rails and Hotwire Codex'. They discuss Ayush's journey of writing and self-publishing the technical resource, the challenges of learning and teaching advanced Ruby on Rails concepts, and the shift towards a full-stack framework, including mobile applications.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

01:48 Discussing 'The Rails and Hotwire Codex'

04:06 Ayush's Journey into Mobile Development

07:19 Transition to Ruby on Rails

19:50 Hybrid Mobile Apps with Turbo Native

27:19 Writing and Publishing the Book

36:32 Struggles with Native Code and Progressive Web Apps

37:56 Writing the Book: Challenges and Timeline

41:11 Motivation and Deadlines

42:09 Learning and Teaching Through Writing

47:43 The Writing Process and Tools

59:30 Editing and Self-Publishing

01:01:23 Reflections on the Book's Success

01:02:55 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

Audio version of this essay:

contraption.co/the-next-iteration-of-contraption-company/

In this episode of the Contraption Company Podcast, host Philip Thomas sits down with Ben Weiss, an entrepreneur who transitioned from founding Zcruit, a software company for college football recruiting, to working in creator businesses. They discuss the nuances of running software versus creator businesses, the journey of growing and selling Zcruit, Ben's experience enhancing operations at Meat Mafia, and his insights into consulting for creators through Velcro. Philip and Ben delve into the importance of product-market fit, the dynamic of selling and marketing in the digital age, and the evolving landscape of content creation and management. Throughout the conversation, they highlight strategies for leveraging content across platforms, the impact of creators on software businesses, and the potential for collaboration between the two realms.

Show notes + links: contraption.co/essays/creator-vs-software-businesses/

Join the Contraption Company newsletter: contraption.co/essays

00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest
00:25 From software to creator businesses: Ben Weiss's journey
01:43 Deep dive into ZCruit: Building and selling a software company
02:33 Transition to creator business: Operations at Meat Mafia
07:09 Exploring the creator business model and value capture
09:27 Operational challenges and solutions in creator businesses
14:15 Advice for creators and software brands on media strategy
21:58 Reflections on the shift from software to creator space
23:41 The allure of the creator economy
23:56 Transitioning from founder to creator
24:47 The changing prestige of working in tech vs. creator world
25:38 The power of attention in the information economy
26:02 Creators vs. Hollywood: The battle for eyeballs
26:52 Choosing between software and creator careers
27:57 The value of content creation and audience building
28:40 Breaking into industries through content
29:31 Marketing strategies for software startups in the creator age
39:39 Leveraging creators for software product growth
46:20 Final thoughts on software and creator business models

Aaron is the co-founder of realnice, a simple personal website builder. realnice competes with my product, Postcard, which is also a personal website builder. So, I thought it would be fun to sit down with a competitor and talk shop.

Show notes + links: contraption.co/essays/talking-shop-aaron-cohn-realnice/

Join the Contraption Company newsletter: contraption.co/essays

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:32 The First Guest: Aaron Cohn

01:10 The Competitive History

01:59 The Shift to Craft Software

03:27 The Challenges of Building a Personal Website

03:29 The Journey to Indie Software

03:50 The Birth of Personal Website Builders

04:41 The Struggles with Marketplaces

05:22 The Evolution of Website Builders

06:41 The Importance of Simplicity in Software

11:03 About Postcard, Philip's product

12:09 The Power of Personal Email Updates

14:14 About realnice, Aaron's product

23:03 The Power of No-Code Tools

27:22 The Power of Bubble: A Developer's Superpower

27:34 The Indie Maker's Journey: From Scarcity to Abundance

27:46 The Pieter Levels Approach: Launching Multiple Apps

27:50 Craft Software: The Art of High Conviction Development

28:10 The Rise of Craft Businesses: A Case Study of Glass.photo

29:09 The Indie Hacker's Dilemma: Money vs. Passion

29:44 The Artistic Element in Software Development

30:21 The Power of Distinctiveness in Craft Software

32:38 The Challenges of Building Personal Website Builders

36:09 The Future of Personal Website Builders: New Features and Ideas

37:15 The Importance of Design in Product Development

38:47 The Real Competition: Battling the Status Quo

39:19 The Power of Collaboration in Business

39:33 Conclusion: The Contraption Company Podcast

Presentation about what software developers teach us about the future of collaboration

Originally given at Almost Perfect in Tokyo on 3 Feb 2024.

Links:

• Written version of talk
• PDF of accompanying slides
• Contraption Company
• Get future content via email
• Booklet
• FRCTNL

The focus of the talk is on the significant shifts that modern-day work practices are undergoing. It highlights emerging trends in software engineering that indicate the future of knowledge work: smaller and remote teams, less structured workweeks, and written asynchronous collaboration. Philip also addresses new issues arising from these changes such as loneliness, isolation, and disengagement with low-quality leisure activities. Additionally, the talk examines the efficient use of open-source software tools like GitHub and Bitcoin, and companies like Airbnb that successfully implement structured centralized decision-making. 

00:00 Introduction to the Creative Residence in Tokyo

00:34 Exploring the Concept of Gallery Presentation

00:49 The Influence of Craftspeople 

01:27 The Evolution of Work and Technology

02:11 The Shift to Information Age and the New Scarcity

02:40 The Impact of Industrialization on Work

03:06 The Role of Technology in Changing the Nature of Work

03:22 The Struggles of Adapting to the Information Age

04:12 The Restoration of Craft and Autonomy in Software Development

04:30 About Philip

06:43 Exploring the Trends in Software Development

06:56 The Rise of Smaller Remote Companies

08:33 The Impact of Remote Work on Economies and Governments

09:47 The Efficiency and Impact of Small Teams in Software Development

13:56 The Emergence of Fractional Work

17:46 The Shift to Written Asynchronous Collaboration

19:24 The Role of Open Source Tools in Collaboration

21:53 The Future of Work and Communication

24:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts