How to Make AI Useful
by Bryan Reimer
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Mar 2026 on Building AI Boston.
The general take
Anna and Cara are genuine fans of the book, with both of them owning copies and appreciating it enough that Anna gives it an enthusiastic endorsement during the podcast. Their enthusiasm seems straightforward rather than performative, based on actual use of the book rather than just polite promotion.
About
We’ve heard it all before: AI will upend industries, kill jobs and remake everything from healthcare to art. But between the hype and the hand-wringing lies a simpler, more pressing question: Is AI actually useful? And if so, useful for what, and for whom? In How to Make AI Useful, MIT researcher Dr Bryan Reimer and Swedish futurologist Magnus Lindkvist cut through the noise. Blending decades of research, trendspotting and hands-on experience, they chart AI’s journey from dazzling gimmick to disruptive force—and now to indispensable tool. This isn’t another audiobook about robot overlords or utopian tech dreams. Instead, it’s a rough guide to AI’s messy middle—the phase where machines meet human complexity. From automating the tedious to amplifying creativity, Reimer and Lindkvist show how to harness AI’s potential for real progress, long after today’s bubble bursts.
Who said what
“Cara and I are huge fans of the book, and of course, I'm going to give it a shameless plug right now for those of you that are looking at it on video. I applaud you. Yeah, we're both fans. We both have them. That's awesome. I know. You've got to sign it next time I see you.”
Building AI Boston — “It’s About Us” with guest Bryan Reimer, Research Scientist at MITat 00:32
Listener reviews
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