What happens when AI meets human creativity?
In this episode, Frederik sits down with Jeremy Utley—adjunct professor at Stanford University, co-author of Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters, Thinkers50 Top Innovation Leader, host of Paint & Pipette: The Art & Science of Innovation, and co-host of Beyond the Prompt. Jeremy has taught nearly a million students worldwide, advises CEOs and startup founders, and is currently researching how individuals and organizations can accelerate their comfort and confidence in leveraging generative AI.
Together, Frederik and Jeremy explore how AI can amplify—not replace—our creative capacities. They discuss why voice matters in AI interactions, how words shape agency, and why humans must take the role of initiator when engaging with AI. The conversation ranges from practical ideation exercises to the deeper implications of AI on identity, creativity, and education—always with the reminder that AI is a collaborator, not a substitute.
Creativity is a practice, not magic
AI as a collaborative partner
Using your voice with AI is a gamechanger
Humans as initiators in AI engagement
The power of words: shaping agency with language
Where to find Jeremy Utley:
Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
Newsletter: NextLetter
Book: What’s Next Is Now
(00:00) Intro
(02:53) Jeremy’s future bio: prompting AI to ask the right questions
(10:14) Use your voice: showing up with your AI’s
(14:22) The advent of ChatGPT: a fertile time of exploration
(18:50) The Initiator: humans as self-hired agents beyond assignments
(24:51) Humans as initiators and executors with AI
(26:09) You are the prompt: how words matter (won’t, can’t, have to, want to)
(29:43) Bad idea brainstorms, wonder wanders, and ego in ideation with AI
(34:31) Mindstate Moment: powerful reflective prompts
(42:56) Speed round: what we get wrong with AI, education, habits to adapt, AI and intimate questions
(47:47) Closing remarks: Post-its and inviting AI into the moment
Original music by Andreas Horchler
