The Neuron: AI Explained

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-cli

Kaggle Game Arena: https://www.kaggle.com/competitions

Google Firebase: https://firebase.google.com/

Gemma models: https://ai.google.dev/gemma

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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.ai

Learn 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/resources

Subscribe 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.

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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.ai

Original article: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/googles-ai-makes-you-apps

Read more: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/how-to-build-an-ai-agent-part-one-testing-googles-firebase-studio-ai-agent-builder

Google AI Studio:⁠ https://aistudio.google.com⁠

NoCodeMBA Tutorial: https://youtu.be/ANth52yyr9U?si=L9iT1-eYgB8nOfrg

Alternative 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.ai

Original article: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/openais-new-agent-is-here

Read More: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/how-to-build-your-own-ai-agent-without-being-a-pro-coder

https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/operator-book-me-some-clients

ChatGPT 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.ai

WTF is going on with AI and education: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/wtf-is-going-on-with-ai-and-education

One 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/andreasmwelsch

AI 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/newsletter

Work 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-need

Artificial 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-demos

https://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 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-need

Artificial 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-demos

https://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/