Subvolts take Learn to build your own AI productivity system with custom tools and workflows. Apr 19, 2026 - Developers
- Learn about building custom AI agent dashboards and workflow automations for personal use.
- Business
- Discover how to implement AI for information management and productivity, potentially improving team workflows.
- Everyday users
- Understand how to use AI tools to manage your attention and organize information more effectively.
This is a solid interview with a creator discussing practical AI tools and personal workflow optimization.
Vibe-Coding an Attention Firewall, w/ Steve Newman, creator of The Curve
Audio streams from Erik Torenberg, Nathan Labenz. Your place is remembered on this device.
From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Steve Newman, creator of Writely and founder of the Golden Gate Institute for AI, joins The Cognitive Revolution podcast to discuss his personal AI toolkit. He shares practices like building an "attention firewall," a reading app, and a coding agent dashboard. The conversation also covers information security, mobile workflows, his "anti-tokenmaxxing" philosophy, and views on AI takeoff, robotics, and climate change.
This episode explains how to build your own AI tools to manage information and work better. It covers creating a "firewall" for your attention and using AI for coding and reading, which can help anyone stay organized and productive.
This episode offers practical insights into managing AI tools and personal workflows. It is for individuals seeking to optimize their productivity with AI, particularly those interested in custom agentic systems and information management. The discussion on bespoke tools and workflow automations aligns with current frontier lab efforts in developing more integrated and user-friendly AI experiences, such as agent dashboards and enhanced coding assistance.
- HostNathan Labenz
- GuestSteve Newmancreator, Writely
- Guest: Steve Newman, creator of Writely
- Show: The Cognitive Revolution
- Length: 130 minutes
- Tools Discussed: Attention firewall, reading app, coding agent dashboard, workflow automations, universal logging system
- Philosophy: Anti-tokenmaxxing
Steve Newman, creator of Writely and founder of the Golden Gate Institute for AI, shares the personal AI toolkit and vibe-coding practices that have reshaped how he works. He walks through bespoke tools including an attention firewall, a reading app for surfacing new ideas, a coding-agent dashboard, workflow automations, and a universal logging system for debugging with Claude. They also discuss information security, mobile and voice workflows, Steve’s “anti-tokenmaxxing” philosophy, and his views on AI takeoff, robotics, and climate change.
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Sponsors:
AvePoint:
AvePoint is building the control layer for AI agents so you can securely govern, audit, and recover every action at scale. Design trusted agentic outcomes from day one at https://avpt.co/tcr
VCX:
VCX, by Fundrise, is the public ticker for private tech, giving everyday investors access to high-growth private companies in AI, space, defense tech, and more. Learn how to invest at https://getvcx.com
Claude:
Claude is the AI collaborator that understands your entire workflow, from drafting and research to coding and complex problem-solving. Start tackling bigger problems with Claude and unlock Claude Pro’s full capabilities at https://claude.ai/tcr
Tasklet:
Build your own Cognitive Revolution monitoring agent in one click.
Try it for free and use code COGREV for 50% off your first month at https://tasklet.ai
CHAPTERS:
(00:00) About the Episode
(03:25) Special Sponsor
(04:47) Building personal productivity tools (Part 1)
(14:23) Sponsors: AvePoint | VCX
(16:45) Building personal productivity tools (Part 2)
(17:32) Security tradeoffs and caution
(26:00) Touring the custom toolkit (Part 1)
(26:05) Sponsors: Claude | Tasklet
(29:56) Touring the custom toolkit (Part 2)
(38:01) Stack choices and dashboards
(45:12) Hooks, repos, and syncing
(58:08) Logging, agents, and tools
(01:11:18) Hard parts and iteration
(01:18:57) Mobile workflows and UIs
(01:26:19) AI-era engineering changes
(01:35:54) Software jobs outlook
(01:41:35) Thresholds, Mythos, and RSI
(01:57:07) AI and climate
(02:01:37) Golden Gate mission
(02:07:50) Episode Outro
(02:12:01) Outro
PRODUCED BY:
- vibe-coding
- Steve Newman
- A way of using AI tools that aligns with your personal style and workflow.
- attention firewall
- Steve Newman
- A system designed to protect your focus by filtering out distractions.
- tokenmaxxing
- Steve Newman
- Maximizing the use of AI's input capacity, often without strategic purpose.
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1 h 02Questions people ask
- What is Steve Newman's "anti-tokenmaxxing" philosophy?
- The notes mention Steve Newman's "anti-tokenmaxxing" philosophy, but do not elaborate on its specifics.
- What are some of the bespoke AI tools discussed?
- Steve Newman discusses an attention firewall, a reading app for new ideas, a coding agent dashboard, workflow automations, and a universal logging system.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Erik Torenberg, Nathan Labenz.