A very human vision for going all-in on AI
The Vergecast
2025/12/07
A very human vision for going all-in on AI
A very human vision for going all-in on AI

The Vergecast
2025/12/07
In an era where AI increasingly automates how we find and process information, one app is taking a different approach—centering the human experience in knowledge management. This conversation explores how technology can support, rather than supplant, personal curation and creative thinking.
Sari Azout, founder of Sublime, discusses building an AI-augmented knowledge tool that prioritizes human judgment over automation. The app supports three core actions—collecting, connecting, and creating ideas—with AI used selectively, especially in recommendation systems, but always under human oversight. She emphasizes the importance of taste, intentionality, and emotional connection to content, resisting the pull of algorithmic defaults. While AI enhances search and organization—like in the 'podcast magic' feature for clipping audio—it falters in subjective tasks, highlighting the need for human insight. Rather than using AI to replace creativity, Azout envisions a symbiotic future where machines handle optimization while humans lead with meaning, inspiration, and purpose. The real value, she argues, lies not in speed or scale but in cultivating deeper understanding and personal insight through thoughtfully designed tools.
11:03
11:03
AI models are good at the 'connect' phase, like providing movie recommendations
33:34
33:34
AI search in Sublime is a 10x improvement, not incremental
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44:57
AI should improve work quality, not just speed.
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47:28
The next edge comes from being connected to inspiration, not facts or speed.