Have You Molted Yet?

Soapbox Sessions Episode 22: Have You Molted Yet? What happens when AI meets the decentralized web? Derek Ross and Heather Larson of Soapbox are excited to talk about the rapidly evolving world of AI assistants, like the viral sensation of Moltbot (formerly Clawdbot). Whatever you want to call it, that bot has spawned our new AI employee, Quilly. Now that we've had 4 days to work with Moltbot, we ask: How do different generations approach AI? What are the security risks of smart home tech and AI assistants? And how do we build powerful tools that non-technical users can actually use? Whether you're an AI skeptic or an early adopter, this episode offers practical insights on using AI responsibly—as a tool, not a crutch. Heather brings the non-technical, non-developer side of the conversation while Derek, our DevRel, talks about all the tech stuff. --- ## Key Topics - **The Moltbot phenomenon** — Why this AI bot captured everyone's attention - **Meet Quilly** — How Soapbox built their AI team member with Moltbot (and what that means for the future) - **Generational AI divide** — GenX, millennials, alphas, and zoomers see AI very differently - **AI as research assistant** — Enhancing productivity without replacing creativity - **Security & cyber hygiene** — The risks most users don't think about - **Building for normies** — Why non-technical users should be the priority - **The prompt injection problem** — Real risks to look out for in building as AI evolves rapidly - **Zapvertising & AI integration** — What's coming next? --- ## Timestamps - 00:00 — The Rise of AI in Rebuilding the Internet - 03:06 — The Buzz Around Moltbot and Its Impact - 05:58 — Introducing Quilly: The AI Team Member we build with Moltbot - 09:06 — The Future of AI Interaction and Collaboration - 12:00 — Navigating AI's Role in Team Dynamics - 14:58 — AI Skepticism and Public Perception - 20:59 — AI as a Tool for Productivity - 23:03 — Balancing AI Use with Human Creativity - 24:11 — AI as a Research Assistant - 25:32 — The Dual Nature of AI - 26:10 — The Rise of Hellthreads and vibe coding for good vs. bad - 29:40 — AI in Education and Creativity - 30:57 — The Importance of Communication Skills when working with AI tools like Moltbot, OpenCode, Claude Code, Shakespeare, and Onyx - 31:56 — Security Concerns with Personal AI - 36:12 — Navigating the Risks of AI Deployment - 39:14 — Collaboration and Awareness in Development - 46:36 — Exploring Zapvertising and AI Integration for Nostr - 49:10 — The Risks of Prompt Injection - 51:02 — Navigating AI Terminology Confusion - 53:00 — The Shift from Prompting to Action - 56:01 — AI as a Productivity Tool - 1:00:16 — The Future of AI and Job Automation - 1:03:10 — Humor and AI: The Molting Bot --- ## Resources Mentioned 📖 **We built Quilly with Moltbot:** https://soapbox.pub/blog/meet-quilly/ 🎭 **Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community:** https://community.shakespeare.diy 💡 **Submit a news tip or ask a question:** https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ 🔧 **Find tools on the website:** https://soapbox.pub/ --- ## Follow Soapbox - **X:** https://x.com/SoapboxTech - **Nostr:** https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy --- ## Listen & Support **⭐ Support on Podcasting 2.0 open networks:** - **Podstr (the one we built):** https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ - **Fountain:** https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc - **True Fans:** https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions - **Podverse:** https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG - **Podcast Guru:** https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 - **Podcast Index:** https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 **🔵 Listen on closed networks:** - **Spotify:** https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO - **Apple Podcasts:** https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097