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- Humans in the Loop Episode #2 with Granola AI Co-founder Sam Stephenson
Humans in the Loop Episode #2 with Granola AI Co-founder Sam Stephenson
Solving real problems and accounting for human agency
Seb Agertoft
September 10, 2025
Welcome to the second episode of Humans in the Loop!
First things first, please go ahead and listen, subscribe and review the podcast on Spotify, Apple, Castbox, Youtube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.
Summary
This episode features Sam Stephenson, co-founder of Granola - one of the standout UK success stories in AI product building.
Sam and I discussed his background as a designer, his journey to becoming a founder, the trajectory of the company so far, and shares his thoughts on designing for human agency and the future of work.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Granola and Its Purpose
02:33 Sam's Background and Design Journey
05:19 Influences from Communal Living
09:36 The Origin of Granola and Co-founder Dynamics
12:01 The Messy Process of Finding the Right Project
16:12 Simplicity in Product Design
19:11 Growth Trajectory and User Experience
21:45 Balancing Short-term and Long-term Goals
24:12 Navigating AI Development Challenges
26:50 Balancing Innovation and Practicality in AI
29:16 The Pressure of Rapid Growth in AI Startups
32:43 The Future of Work with AI Assistance
36:51 Reducing Coordination Complexity in Organizations
38:28 The Human Element in AI Interactions
41:01 Agency and Control in the Age of AI
43:31 Envisioning a High-Leverage Future with AI
If you’d like to come on the show, or know of someone who’d be a great guest then please reach out to me: [email protected]
