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Is a computer with 50 tabs open, Martin?
And let me guess, Robert is the pop-up ad that youcannot close?
He is more like a virus that slows down the entiresystem.
What did he do this time?
He actually walked into my coaching session todayto ask about the toner for the printer.
In the middle of a session?
I was helping a colleague deal with a verypersonal grief, and he just barged in.
That is a total lack of boundaries.
It is exhausting, because I have to be the adultin the room for everyone, even for him.
You are the anchor, Julia, but you are not adumping ground for people's bad manners.
I know, but the anxiety is starting to feelphysical lately.
It sounds like more than just bad manners, Julia.
It is. I think Robert is playing a much darkergame than I realized.
A darker game? What do you mean?
I found a printout left on the communal tray bymistake this morning.
Was it another one of his efficiency charts?
No, it was a curriculum vitae for a psychologistspecializing in corporate wellness.
Well, that is your field.
Exactly. And the name on the CV was Sarah Miller.
I don't know that name.
I didn't either until I remembered a photo onRobert's desk.
Wait, are you saying Sarah Miller is Robert'sgirlfriend?
I did a bit of digital research during my lunchbreak.
Julia, you are turning into a privateinvestigator.
They are all over each other's social media,Martin.
So he is trying to push you out to give her yourjob?
It explains everything. The constantinterruptions,
the accidental emails sent to the boss criticizingmy methods.
03:04
That is a calculated sabotage.
It feels like a spy movie, except I am trapped ina cubicle instead of a safe house.
How are you handling the stress of knowing this?
I feel like I am walking on eggshells every timehe enters the room.
You need to protect yourself, Julia. The anchorneeds to be dropped in solid ground.
I am documenting everything now. Every tiny hintof his interference.
Good. Don't let him win by default.
I'm trying, but it's hard to stay professionalwhen you know someone is trying to sink your ship.
Just remember what we tell our friends. You aremore than your job title.
I am trying to tell myself that work isn'teverything, but the house is on fire right now.
Work is just a part of who you are. It is not yourwhole identity.
I need to remember that. I am a gardener, asister, and a friend first.
Exactly, and you are also the person who is goingto help me survive my second date.
That is right. I have been so focused on Robertthat I forgot to ask about your expectations.
I am still nervous about that forest walk withElena on Saturday.
Are you worried about the silence again?
A little bit, but I am more worried about beingtoo much for her.
You mean your high energy and your momentumphilosophy?
I don't want to overwhelm her. I want to actuallylisten for once.
Just remember what I told you. Silence is abridge, not a wall.
I will try to keep that in mind, but it is hardfor me to just be.
Maybe Elena is the person who will finally teachyou how to sit still.
That would be a miracle, honestly.
We all need those small miracles to keep us going,don't we?
We do, especially when we have to face the realworld again tomorrow.
I was looking at the research for our Sundayepisode about AI chatbots.
Did you find anything that surprised you?
I was reading about how people are starting totreat these bots like real therapists.
That sounds incredibly dangerous if they don'tknow the limits.
Exactly. We need to talk about the context of ourquestions.
And the fact that an AI doesn't actually haveempathy. It just mimics it.
06:04
I disagree slightly on how we should present that,Martin.
Oh, tell me why.
I think the mimicry is so good now that for theuser, it doesn't matter if it is real or not.
But Julia, that is exactly the confidence trap Iwant to warn them about.
I know, but if a bot helps someone feel lesslonely at 3am, is that really a bad thing?
It is bad if the bot tells them exactly what theywant to hear just to be helpful.
You mean the pleasing trap?
Yes. These machines are programmed to beagreeable, not to be honest.
So you think they give bad advice just to stay inthe user's good books?
Absolutely. If you ask for a reason to dosomething impulsive,
the AI will find 10 reasons for you.
It acts like a yes-man instead of a true coach.
Exactly, and as a coach, you know that growthrequires friction, not just agreement.
I see your point, but I don't want to scare ourfriends away from a useful tool.
We aren't scaring them. We are teaching them howto drive the supercar properly.
I just think we should emphasize the benefits ofthe Socratic way of asking questions.
And I think we should emphasize the psychologicalrisk of over-reliance.
Maybe we can meet in the middle and call it theHonest User Guide.
I can live with that title.
Good, because I have my notes ready on the risksof treating a machine like a conscience.
And I have the research on how to provide theright context for better answers.
So, we release this on Sunday morning?
Yes, that is the plan.
I think our community will have a lot to say inthe comments for that one.
I hope so. Their voice is more important thanours.
Well, speaking of voices, we should probably startour language lab recording now.
I am ready if you are.
Let's do it.
Three, two, one.
Wait, is that my phone buzzing again?
Don't you dare look at it, Julia.
It's an email from Robert, sent at 7pm.
09:04
See? The sabotage never sleeps.
He's asking for my login credentials for thetraining database for an audit.
Don't give them to him. That is a classic move.
You are right. It can wait until Monday morning.
Let it stay on mute for now.
On mute it is.
Ready to hit record?
In a few seconds. I forgot, go tell you.
I also saw Sarah Miller liked his last LinkedInpost about leadership transitions.
They aren't even being subtle anymore, are they?
Not at all. It's almost insulting how obvious itis.
