Intelligent Machines 864: "And Artemis Too"
Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Katie Lee (Every.to), Paris Martineau, Jeff Jarvis
Date: April 2, 2026
Overview
In this episode, Leo Laporte is joined by Jeff Jarvis, Paris Martineau, and special guest Katie Lee, Editor-in-Chief of the AI-powered media and tooling platform Every (now Every.to). The conversation explores the intersection of AI and media, takes a deep dive into Every’s pivot toward AI-driven products for enterprise and writers, examines ethical and practical tensions for journalists using AI, and touches on contemporary AI news, including the major leak of Claude Code, regulatory issues, and cultural shifts in workplace AI adoption.
The show also features reactions and commentary on the Artemis II Moon launch, a fun exploration into “obsolete sounds,” industry news, and the evolving role of AI in both the journalism profession and broader society.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introducing Katie Lee & the Origins of Every (00:40–08:00)
- Katie Lee recaps her journey from literary agent representing early bloggers (including Jeff Jarvis) to her roles at Medium, WeWork, Stripe Press, and now Every.
- Every’s Mission Evolution:
- Founded in 2020 as a high-quality tech and business newsletter, focused on analysis and commentary rather than breaking news.
- Pivoted to AI-centered content and products ("human plus AI"), with a strong focus on AI’s impact on work and productivity.
- Quote:
“Technology is culture. And you see technology companies knowing that they have a place and they have an audience…It’s a really interesting time.”
—Katie Lee (05:18)
2. Every’s AI Product Strategy and Tools (07:06–16:00)
- Product Suite:
- Lex (AI word processor), Spiral (writing assistant), Sparkle (file organizer), Chorus (email management), Monologue (voice dictation), Proof (AI assistant for editing), Plus One (personalized AI agent), and ongoing consulting/courses.
- Product Development Approach:
- Internal needs spark product ideas; quick iteration and roll-out to a cultivated subscriber base.
- Target Audience: “Builders”—not just engineers, but anyone using AI to enhance productivity.
- Community/Events:
- Virtual camps with platforms like Notion and Codex help users cross the "membrane" from non-coder to AI builder/operator.
- Quote:
“Pretty much everyone here is a builder in some way... our operations person has done the same thing. Our customer service has done the same thing. So that’s really how we think about it.”
—Katie Lee (13:04)
3. Human + AI Writing: Process, Ethics & Changing Roles (16:00–32:00)
- Human Process Diversity:
- Every writer uses AI writing tools (like Spiral) differently—some start with AI, some use it for revision, some only for rote elements (e.g., marketing emails).
- AI as Assistant, Not Replacement:
- Most output is not fully AI-generated; AI is a collaborator, especially for repetitive editing or structure.
- Style guides and editorial standards now “fed” into LLMs to ensure consistency.
- Ethical Questions:
- Not all writers embrace AI; individuality respected and not mandated.
- Journalistic concern: Does AI-generated writing smooth away individuality? Is it “real writing”?
- Memorable Moment:
“If you’ve spent hours training this claw or LLM on your work, on your style guide…it’s not inventing things out of thin air…It doesn’t mean you have to accept everything it says, but it is a good thing to consider.”
—Katie Lee (21:54) - Paris Martineau’s Take:
- Skeptical about using AI for core reporting:
“…if you’re talking about using AI to produce the core part of your output, you’re going to get something that is sanded down at the edges…it’s not very special or excellent because it is an average of a lot of different things.”
(28:41)
- Skeptical about using AI for core reporting:
4. AI’s Democratizing Power vs. Coder Gatekeeping (16:31–17:12; 22:17–25:37)
- Vibe Coding:
- Discussion on how AI enables non-coders to “vibe code” and create tools, breaking down past technical barriers.
- Cultural Shift:
“For anybody to create tools…that’s what’s exciting about Vibe coding—it opens the door.”
—Leo Laporte (22:17)
5. Work, Automation, and Jobs (34:35–39:47)
- Katie Lee:
- AI enables new types of jobs (e.g., “prompt engineer” now a skill rather than a job).
- Concerns about automating out human colleagues, but hope that it automates rote work and creates new higher-order roles.
- Quote:
"If I never have to copy/paste into different forms again, I will be so happy." (38:31)
6. AI in Journalism: Ongoing Debates (46:41–53:31)
- Debate on AI for Journalistic Writing:
- Many journalists voice discomfort with using AI for reporting or substantive writing, but value AI for rote tasks (e.g., finding quotes in PDFs, producing simple summaries).
- “If you’re using AI to produce the core part of your output, you’re going to get something that is, by definition, an average…Not the sort of work you want to be doing.”
—Paris Martineau (48:52) - Jeff Jarvis adds:
- AI is a useful unblocker and assistant, but true creativity breaks the patterns AI is built on.
7. Major AI News: Claude Code Leak, Regulation & Safety (54:45–64:45)
- Claude Code Leak:
- Anthropic’s LLM code briefly leaked, analyzed by researchers and hobbyists; shows the importance of the "harness" architecture, not just the model weights.
- Discovered hidden features (like a Tamagotchi “Buddy” mode for April Fools).
- Security concerns: major supply chain attacks (e.g., PyPI, Axios) threaten the open ecosystem of AI libraries.
- Regulation Updates:
- Governor Newsom (California) issues executive order for AI safety and transparency for vendors (95:15).
- White House AI policy—progress but skepticism about implementation and effectiveness.
8. AI, the Workplace, and Societal Change (97:31–100:51)
- Surveys & Polls:
- Only 15% of Americans say they’d willingly work for an AI boss (97:31).
- Majority are skeptical about AI’s impact on jobs and society—except those earning over $200k/year, who are more optimistic (99:32).
- AI increasingly handles middle management tasks, flattening organizations.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Katie Lee: “Technology is culture…It’s a really interesting time.” (05:18)
- Paris Martineau: “If you’re using AI to produce the core part of your output, you’re going to get something that … is not very special…by definition, an average.” (28:41/48:52)
- Jeff Jarvis: “Creativity is breaking the patterns…AI is never going to do that.” (52:10)
- Leo Laporte: “That’s what’s exciting about vibe coding—it opens the door…for anybody to create tools.” (22:17)
- Katie Lee: "If I never have to copy/paste into different forms again, I will be so happy." (38:31)
Key Timestamps
| Time | Segment/Content | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00-08:00 | Show intro, panelist intros, Katie Lee’s origin story | | 07:06-16:00 | Every’s pivot to AI tools, product suite, audience targeting | | 16:00-32:00 | Human+AI writing workflows, style guides, editorial standards | | 28:00-33:00 | Ethical debates—journalism, authorship, AI resistance | | 34:35-39:47 | Automating work, job concerns, future prospects | | 46:41-53:31 | Journalism debates: AI as writing/labor assistant, creativity vs. pattern| | 54:45-64:45 | Claude Code leak, supply chain hacks, regulatory updates | | 97:31-100:51| Workplace AI, survey results, social impacts and perceptions | | 81:05-90:34 | [Live reactions to Artemis II Moon launch] | |119:00-122:00| Feature: “Obsolete Sounds” project picks | |126:09-129:45| April Fool’s reactions, viral pranks |
Fun & Culture
- Artemis II Launch:
- The team watches and reacts live to the first U.S. crewed moon mission in 50 years (81:05+).
- Obsolete Sounds:
- Paris recommends a project archiving extinct or disappearing sounds—like old cash registers, typewriters, and pay phones.
- April Fools’ Day:
- Takes on accurate/fake news blurring, elaborate pranks, and the panel's shared dislike of April Fools’ as a journalistic hazard.
- Miscellany:
- Tattoo talk: Paris reveals her David Bowie Ziggy Stardust tattoo; group ponders a communal brain tattoo for the show.
Final Thoughts
- AI’s role in media is dynamic: blending human creativity, editorial standards, and technical augmentation.
- Tensions remain: especially for journalists, between efficiency/automation and the preservation of distinct voices, judgment, and ethical standards.
- Broader implications: rise of AI in the workplace and the “flattening” of organizations, security challenges of open source AI, and uncertainty about access to top-tier AI models.
- Culture & community: Even as we transition to “intelligent machines,” the human element—debate, humor, tradition, and even nostalgia—remains central.
For more:
- Visit every.to (30-day free trial, 125K+ subs)
- Listen on TWiT.tv
- Follow Paris Martineau at Consumer Reports, Jeff Jarvis at jeffjarvis.com, and Leo Laporte on TWiT.
“You’re watching Intelligent Machines…We will see you next time!” —Leo Laporte (143:26)