Recording a book about high-tech Artificial Intelligence is hard. Being a non-artificial human in a house with dogs and teenagers is even harder.
In this special "Intermission" episode of the You Teach the Machines companion podcast, we're taking a brief, lighthearted break from the heavy lifting of Chapter 4 to bring you the glorious, unedited mess that happened behind the mic in Jeff's home studio.
If AI is a mirror of humanity, this episode is the mirror before it's had its morning coffee.
The "Home Studio" Reality: Hear the background noise of a busy second-floor office that Jeff affectionately calls a "studio."
The War on Barking: Watch (well, listen) as Jeff battles a persistent four-legged intruder who clearly has strong opinions on artificial intelligence.
Family vs. Recording: The exact moment Jeff's daughter, MJ, breaks the "fourth wall" to announce a 11:00 AM meeting.
Human Agency in Action: Jeff decides to leave the "mess" in the audiobook because, as he says, "You can pause me, bro."
Jeff has spent three decades leading data strategy at places like Ask Jeeves and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He's a sought-after speaker on AI ethics and healthcare data, but as you'll hear in these outtakes, even a leading voice in AI literacy can be brought to a standstill by a bathroom door opening or a dog that refuses to stop "teaching the machine" its own version of a sequence model.
This intermission perfectly illustrates the "Printing Press" moment we are in. Technology allows Jeff to record a professional audiobook from his upstairs office, but it also captures the raw, multigenerational reality of modern life. While the machines are striving for "mathematical averages," humans are busy navigating meetings, pets, and family interruptions. That messiness is exactly what makes us impossible for a machine to replace.
Follow along with the silly chaos:
Jeff: "Go away! No, go away! Go away! Stop barking! ... You can pause me, bro. I'm going to leave that in the audiobook, though."
MJ: "[Laughter] I have a meeting at 11:00, so I'm going to make noise."
Once you've finished laughing at the reality of home recording, join Jeff and MJ for more professional (but still accessible!) insights on the You Teach the Machines companion podcast.
To hear the version where Jeff actually finishes his sentences, download the full audiobook or grab a print copy. Don't forget to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads to let us know which "human error" was your favorite!
Audiobook:
Audible: Click Here
Amazon: Click Here
Apple Books: Click Here
Google Play: Click Here
Print & eBook:
Amazon: Click Here
Barnes & Noble: Click Here
Bookshop.org: Support your local bookstore!
For more resources and "Human-in-the-loop" fun, visit youteachthemachines.com.
