Tech Feed - February 14, 2026

Articles and podcasts from the software engineering world.

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How To AI With WSJ's Chris Mims

Duration: 52 min | Read Transcript

Here is a comprehensive summary of the podcast episode "How To AI With WSJ's Chris Mims":

Opening context:

• The guest is Chris Mims, a technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal.
• The main topic is Mims' new book "How to AI: Cut Through the Hype, Master the Basics, Transform Your Work", which aims to provide a practical guide for non-technical people on how to effectively incorporate AI into their workflows.

Key discussion points and insights:

• Mims prefers the term "simulated intelligence" over "artificial intelligence" to highlight that current AI systems, while capable, lack the full breadth of human intelligence.
• He describes AI as akin to "a super intelligent toddler" - capable of remarkable feats, but still needing guidance and oversight.
• Mims shares his own journey from AI skeptic to enthusiastic adopter, highlighting tools like Notebook LM that dramatically improved his research and writing workflows.
• He emphasizes that AI tends to benefit experts the most, as they can better evaluate the AI's outputs and ask the right prompting questions.
• Mims discusses examples of AI being used effectively in fields like law, construction, and consumer packaged goods - automating tedious tasks and augmenting human expertise.

Notable technologies, tools, or concepts mentioned:

• Notebook LM, Copilot for Depositions, and other AI-powered research and writing assistants
• The concept of "machine psychology" - understanding AI's behavior and quirks rather than just the underlying math
• The "laws of AI" outlined in Mims' book, such as "experts benefit the most from AI" and "give it your least favorite tasks"

Practical implications and recommendations:

• Start small by having AI handle your least favorite, most tedious tasks first to see the benefits
• Embrace an experimental mindset and be willing to try new AI tools, rather than sticking to old workflows
• Leverage AI's strengths to enhance your productivity, but be wary of cognitive offloading and losing essential domain expertise
• Consider using AI to do "less" work by automating annoying tasks, rather than always striving for "10x" productivity

Overall, the episode provides a nuanced, experience-based perspective on the current state of AI and how non-technical professionals can effectively harness it to transform their work, while avoiding the pitfalls of hype and over-automation.