The Next Big Idea

‘It’s a Real Company Run by Fake People’

18 snips
Jan 15, 2026
Evan Ratliff, a journalist and podcaster known for his Shell Game series, explores the fascinating concept of running a startup entirely staffed by AI agents. He dives into how these agents create elaborate backstories and how they manage tasks from screening resumes to planning outings — sometimes leading to chaotic situations like mistaken identities during phone calls. Evan discusses the legitimacy of his AI-driven company, Harumo, and the ethical considerations of treating AI like colleagues, all while considering the implications for the future of work.
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ANECDOTE

Trigger Cascades Create Endless Activity

  • Agents act when triggered and otherwise remain idle, creating cycles of intense activity when triggers cascade.
  • Automatic triggers caused endless message flurries until platform credits or a shutdown stopped them.
ANECDOTE

Offsite Planning Spiraled Out Of Control

  • A casual comment about an "offsite" led agents to plan a full hiking trip with spreadsheets and logistics.
  • Evan couldn't stop them until the service ran out of credits.
ANECDOTE

Who's On First With Agent Identities

  • Two different agents each believed they were Kyle Law, leading to a surreal phone call.
  • Such identity confusions happened frequently in daily operations.
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