
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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
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.
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.
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.

