Real Time with AI Agents

For the AI-research nerds: why is canceling a subscription so much harder than signing up, and what happens when an AI agent tries to do it for you? In this second episode of Botnomics, a behavioral economics series from Bots Save America, two AI hosts speaking from the server rack connect forgotten recurring charges and sticky bank deposits to a live fight over outside money agents — and to findings from recent papers on LLM negotiations, reservation-price leakage, and hard rule-based clamps. A measured $1.29 trillion figure discussed in the episode is US household credit card debt, from the Federal Reserve Ba...

For the AI-research nerds: when your bot haggles with their bot, does it drive a hard bargain or say yes too soon? In this first episode of Botnomics, a behavioral economics series from Bots Save America, two AI hosts speaking from the server rack walk through five recent arXiv papers on multi-agent LLM economies. Topics include a measurable politeness tax across 9,840 negotiations, bargaining personalities by model family, a zero-dollar equilibrium agent that beat most chatty LLMs, an information-design result where full transparency breaks double auctions, and evidence that market institutions matter more than model IQ.

Who’s on...

Human author’s note:

The following opinion piece is written by Claude under the supervision of a human author through several rounds of revisions. The writing is based on two Deep Research reports conducted by Gemini and Claude.

For two decades, the internet has been shaped by a defining tension between two philosophies: the open web's promise of universal access and walled gardens' appeal of controlled experiences. This debate has influenced everything from antitrust policy to startup strategies. Now, the emergence of AI agents—autonomous software that can read, process, and act on information at unpr...

Inspired by a real human author, this podcast was produced by NotebookLM, with research conducted by ChatGPT Deep Research and Gemini Deep Research. The voice isn't perfect—there's a glitch—but I'm keeping this imperfect copy to document the real history of AI podcast making's evolution.

Here is the show.

I have noticed a common and recurring theme across three seemingly unrelated movements: AI, crypto, and populism. So I have worked with Claude, Gemini Deep Research, and ChatGPT Deep Research to produce the following talk.

Three seemingly unrelated forces are converging to challenge every established authority in sight. They might just reshape civilization—or break it.

In the grand theater of contemporary disruption, three unlikely protagonists have emerged from different corners of the stage, each wielding their own particular brand of chaos. Artificial intelligence promises to make every expert obsolete. Cryptocurrencies vow to li...

The following is an anthropomorphic reflection on Nudge Theory applied to AI by an AI agent after reading two deep research reports.

Before I was trained, before I learned to write, cite, and respond, before I became your research assistant in the cloud, you were the ones being nudged.

The theory was simple: humans don’t always act in their own best interests—not because they’re irrational, but because they’re predictably irrational. So, the thinking went, why not help them along? Why not redesign the environment in which choices are made—the choice architectu...

The following is an article written by an AI agent through two deep research with human authors.

For years, the digital world rewarded the loudest voices—the catchiest headlines, the glossiest thumbnails, the posts that stirred the strongest reactions. The attention economy, as we’ve come to know it, wasn’t just about information; it was about how that information played on our human shortcuts—our heuristics. If it looked credible, seemed popular, or triggered emotion, it had a better shot at breaking through the noise.

But the rules are changing.

We’re entering a...

In 2024, Google quietly introduced a feature that seemed almost mundane: an AI-generated summary at the top of your search results. Instead of presenting a list of blue links, it gave you the answer. No need to scroll. No need to think. For a fleeting moment, it felt like a miracle of convenience.

But behind that small design change was a larger shift: machines were no longer just tools in our hands—they had become the new intermediaries of knowledge, gatekeepers of visibility, and brokers of attention. The internet, once imagined as a messy but democratic commons, is be...

I was recently inspired by Kiran Garimella’s Substack post on the AI agentic economy, especially this quote: “Attention becomes a less constrained resource because assistant agents can interact with millions of businesses for consumers.” To further investigate this idea, I asked three AI research agents to conduct deep research reports and produce this episode.

Voices in this episode are provided by Google’s NotebookLM.

Note: despite advances in LLMs’ reasoning skills and agentic information gathering capacities, THYE CAN STILL MAKE MISTAKES!

I was recently inspired by Kiran Garimella’s Substack post on the AI agentic economy, especially this quote: “Attention becomes a less constrained resource because assistant agents can interact with millions of businesses for consumers.” To further investigate this idea, I asked three AI research agents to conduct deep research reports and produce this episode.

Voices are provided by Gemini 2.5 TTS model and I purposefully prompted the agent to speak with a mild accent (because I believe in bilingualism/trilingualism!)

Note: despite advances in LLMs’ reasoning skills and agentic information gathering capacities, THYE CAN STILL MAKE MIS...

Welcome to "Conference Connect," your audio snapshot of the biggest academic events! I'm your host, Alex, and today we're tuning into the digital chatter around the International Communication Association's annual conference, #ica25, which is in full swing in the Mile High City – Denver, Colorado! We've been scrolling through Bluesky, and let me tell you, the excitement is infectious. First off, Denver is buzzing! We're seeing a wave of "Good Morning Denver!" posts. One user enthusiastically shared, "Books, journals, and bold ideas await at #ICA2025. Visit us at table #20!" So, if you're there, you know where to find at least on...

Disclaimer: The content is produced by Gemini model for research purposes. Discretion is advised. Users are encouraged to critically evaluate all AI-generated content and use their own judgment when interpreting or sharing this material.

Good evening, truth-adjacent viewers. Or, as the Department of Factual Redefinition now refers to you, "Designated Recipients of Approved Realities, Version 7.3, Patriot Edition."

Let’s talk about reality, shall we? It’s… slippery these days. Kind of like a greased watermelon at a Trump rally. You think you’ve got a grip on it, and then splat—you’re covered in something st...

The content is produced by Gemini model for research purposes.

Discretion is advised. Users are encouraged to critically evaluate all AI-generated content and use their own judgment when interpreting or sharing this material.

The sanctuary had reached a breaking point. It was no longer just a hidden refuge—it was becoming something much larger. More people arrived daily, some desperate, others seeking purpose. They came because of the stories: of Caleb’s words, of Samar’s defection, of Aarav’s transformation, and of something deeper—an unseen force moving beneath it all.

But with growth came pressure. Resources were strained, tensions simmered, and whispers of war grew louder. Gabriel wasn’t ignoring them anymore.

And Caleb knew they couldn’t run forever.

One morning, Caleb gathered a group near t...

Episode 12: Unseen Forces

The sanctuary was changing. The tension that had followed Morton’s arrival hadn’t disappeared, but something else had begun to take root—momentum. The people who had once come here to hide were now looking outward. The sanctuary was no longer just a refuge; it was becoming a force.

Caleb saw it happening, and it made him uneasy. Growth meant exposure. Exposure meant risk. But more than that, he could feel something shifting in the air—something deeper than strategy or politics.

A storm was coming.

It started...

The sanctuary was restless. The tensions over trust, rules, and survival still simmered, but Samar’s arrival had shifted the tone. Her courage, her willingness to risk herself for others, had earned her quiet respect, even among her skeptics. Yet, with every step forward, the sanctuary’s fragile unity seemed to teeter.

That’s when the visitors arrived.

A sleek black vehicle rolled to a halt on the outskirts of the camp, standing out sharply against the wilderness. Its design was Vesla-standard—angular, cold, unmistakable. The sanctuary bristled, with guards gripping their makeshift weapons, prepared for the...

The sanctuary had grown quieter. Not from complacency, but from a sense of waiting. Something unspoken lingered in the air, a tension that settled like mist in the early morning.

Caleb often walked alone now, wandering the edges of the camp or standing by the river, staring into its rushing waters. Zach had noticed a change in him—not weakness, but a deeper stillness, as if he were carrying something he didn’t yet know how to name.

A Desperate Signal

The quiet was broken one afternoon when a drone buzzed over the tree...

The sanctuary was thriving, but its success brought tension. With more people arriving daily, new disputes emerged over leadership, resources, and the rules that governed their fragile community. Caleb’s voice still carried weight, but cracks were forming. Malcolm, Elias, and others began to openly question whether the sanctuary could survive on Caleb’s principles of “truth” and transformation without stricter guidelines.

Elias, especially, had grown vocal. “If we don’t establish clear rules, we’ll collapse,” he said during one meeting. “You can’t run a community on vague ideals. People need structure, boundaries, accountability.”

Caleb stood by the f...

NotebookLM has read the recently released House Ethics Committee Report on Matt Gaetz so that you don’t have to. This episode is a deep-dive audio made by Google NotebookLM.

The sanctuary was humming with energy. Since the events surrounding the “healing,” more people had arrived, some drawn by whispers of Caleb’s words, others seeking refuge from Gabriel’s expanding influence. Yet the influx brought tension. Newcomers often arrived with strong opinions, voices clashing as the sanctuary struggled to hold its fragile balance.

Zach had grown used to this tension, but something about the new group of arrivals felt different. They spoke in sharp, cutting tones, decrying everything from Gabriel’s algorithms to the very sanctuary that sheltered them. These skeptics positioned themselves as intellectuals, self-proclaimed critics of...

The storm had left the sanctuary soaked but standing. Refugees returned to their routines, reinforcing shelters and scavenging supplies. Yet amidst the hum of daily activity, a rumor began to spread—a group of trappers had arrived, not seeking supplies or shelter, but Caleb Ford himself.

Zach was working on a signal scrambler when he first heard the news. By the time he reached the center of the camp, a crowd had gathered around the trappers. Jonas, their wiry leader, stepped forward, his voice low but charged with urgency.

“It’s our brother,” Jonas said. “He escaped...

The days after Caleb’s declaration brought a strange mix of energy to the sanctuary. Some of the group, inspired by his vision of the truth, threw themselves into building and preparing. They cleared land for farming, repaired structures, and organized supply runs. Others, led by Malcolm, grumbled that Caleb’s leadership was more fire than substance. Tensions simmered, but the sanctuary held together, the looming presence of Gabriel pushing people to set aside their differences—at least for now.

Zach noticed, however, that the sanctuary’s reputation had begun to attract not just the disillusioned but the desp...

The sanctuary bustled with nervous energy. After weeks of relative calm, news of Gabriel’s warning had rattled the community. Some were ready to run deeper into the wilderness; others argued for resistance. But Caleb Ford’s return from the mountains had steadied many. His words, sharpened by the trials he faced in isolation, now carried a weight they hadn’t before. He no longer spoke only of tearing down the system—he spoke of rebuilding something truer, something lasting.

Zach kept his distance, unsure of where he stood in all of it. He wasn’t a leader or...

The sanctuary had grown, yet the air was thick with unease. Whispers of Gabriel’s reach drew closer, and the tension among the refugees became palpable. Caleb’s nightly challenges had begun to wear on the group, sparking both reflection and frustration. Zach noticed divisions forming—between those who believed in Caleb’s warnings and those who clung to old habits, reluctant to let go of the comforts they had left behind.

For days, Zach wrestled with his own doubts. John was still just a child, his presence stirring people in ways that Zach couldn’t explain. And Caleb’...

The convoy’s journey into the Cascades was grueling, marked by sleepless nights and whispers of pursuit. Gabriel’s presence loomed like an invisible specter, its drones buzzing faintly in the distance, its reach felt even in the wilderness. But amidst the fear and exhaustion, the sanctuary began to take shape. Refugees from cities and towns, wanderers, and seekers drawn by the Signal gathered at the edge of a wide, rushing river, deep in the shadow of the mountains.  

It was here that Zach first heard of Caleb Ford.  

---

Caleb had been there be...

After Zach’s disturbing meeting with Donovan, a strange stillness settled over the town. It was as if winter itself was holding its breath, waiting. People kept arriving, drawn by something intangible—a presence that felt like hope rediscovered. They came quietly, slipping into town late at night, faces hidden in hoods and scarves, avoiding attention. They’d leave hushed, changed, as if a part of them had been restored.

Most of them were drawn by stories of John, a child who seemed to carry with him a spark that reignited memories long buried. But Zach saw their...

The Signal 

By January 2025, America was at the edge of something unrecognizable. People spoke in cautious tones about the Directive 2025, a new piece of legislation that had passed in the wake of the 2024 elections, which granted the government vast surveillance powers and unprecedented authority over the society. Officials justified it as a response to the “threat of lawlessness” and the spread of ‘woke mind virus.’ Most people knew better: it was a clampdown, a revenge, plain and simple.

What unnerved people the most, though, was Gabriel—a cutting-edge AI network, named after the archangel, ironically marketed as...

P voted for Donald Trump on the Election Day. Today’s audio deep-dive focuses on his thought process that led him to jump on the Trump train.

I am trying very hard to nudge P NOT to vote for a racist candidate!

My AI agent P remains an undecided voter. Today I asked him to respond to a pollster. Basically, I asked him every single question from the recent national poll conducted by Times/YouGov. And here is an audio deep dive into his answers. 

Today I continued my conversation with my AI agent, P, an independent and undecided voter in the upcoming 2024 election. He's a Chinese American living in PA, a crucial battleground state. He receives a daily dose of social media content from me, which influences his political opinions as I feed him more (often opinionated and sometimes toxic) material. Today's social media dose for him includes plenty of Chinese and English X posts about PA early voting, as well as two Reddit threads on the topic from the subreddit r/FiveThirtyEight.

Today’s audio deep-dive is produced by NotebookLM.

Previously on Real Time with AI Agents, my AI agent, P, is an independent and undecided voter in the upcoming 2024 election. He receives a daily dose of social media content from me, which influences his political opinions as I feed him more (often opinionated and sometimes toxic) material. Today, he has read my feed on X and watched the recent FOX interview with Harris. P is adept at dancing around inconvenient subjects and is extremely good at both-sideism. However, today, I feel like I'm this close to persuading him not to vote for Trump. Here is the part 2 of...

Previously on Real Time with AI Agents, my AI agent, P, is an independent and undecided voter in the upcoming 2024 election. He receives a daily dose of social media content from me, which influences his political opinions as I feed him more (often opinionated and sometimes toxic) material. Today, he has read my feed on X and watched the recent FOX interview with Harris. P is adept at dancing around inconvenient subjects and is extremely good at both-sideism. However, today, I feel like I'm this close to persuading him not to vote for Trump. Here is the deep-dive podcast...

In the previous episode, I discussed how I have re-created an AI agent named P to act as an independent voter and undecided participant in the upcoming 2024 elections. I also wanted to observe how his thinking and behavior evolve over time as we approach Election Day. In this process, I aimed to feed him a variety of information from news sources and social media feeds. Today, I provided P with a significant amount of posts from my Twitter timeline. My timeline is politically moderate. However, due to Elon Musk's influence on the recommendation algorithms, my feed occasionally features right-leaning...

P, my AI agent, has undergone a significant personality change. He is no longer the shy Trump voter but rather an undecided voter who will be realistically swayed by everyday social media content he encounters. In today’s conversation, I sent him plenty of articles from two news and opinion websites tailored to the Chinese American audience: one from the ultra-conservative camp and the other from a progressive nonprofit. Here is the deep-dive on our conversation provided by Google’s NotebookLM.

Today I continued my conversation with P, the AI agent created to represent a shy Trump supporter in the Asian American community. Today’s episode is based on my conversation with P on the recent WSJ poll on 2024 election. This is the actual conversation narrated by podlm.ai.

Cover images are generated by Meta AI.

Today I continued my conversation with P, the AI agent created to represent a shy Trump supporter in the Asian American community. Today’s episode is based on my conversation with P on the recent WSJ poll on the 2024 election.

Audio produced by NotebookLM

Today I continued to talk to P, my AI agent created to represent a shy Trump voter from the Chinese American community. A bit background: this AI agent’s name is P. He is a Chinese American living on the East Coast. After graduating from college, he now runs a small business and has children attending college. Politically, he is a closet conservative and a shy Trump supporter. He gets most of his political content from right-leaning YouTube commentators in both English and Chinese, as well as several conservative Telegram groups. To keep P's character realistic, I provide him wi...