AI Agents, Clearly Explained in 40 Minutes | Wade Foster (Zapier)

AI Agents, Clearly Explained in 40 Minutes | Wade Foster (Zapier)

Author: Peter Yang October 26, 2025 Duration: 37:01

Wade is the co-founder and CEO of Zapier. We’re both sick of everyone calling everything an “AI agent” so we had some real talk about what actually works instead. Wade gave me a practical demo of his AI workflow that triages 100+ emails to 10 and shared exactly how to find automation opportunities on your calendar.


Wade and I talked about:


(00:00) Why most people asking for agents actually want workflows

(01:25) The AI automation spectrum explained with real examples

(05:16) Live demo: Wade's email agent that triages 100+ emails down to 10

(13:27) The difference between APIs vs MCPs

(18:52) Making Zapier AI-first: Why the CEO memo isn’t enough

(24:08) Wade's response to AI influencers saying "RIP Zapier"

(32:09) How Zapier tests for AI fluency in job interviews

(35:31) How to identify what to automate with AI in your calendar


This episode is brought to you by Vellum.Use the code AIAGENTS25 to get 25% off your first 3 months with Vellum: https://vellum.ai/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=PeterYangPodcast


📌 Get my top 10 takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/ai-agents-clearly-explained-in-40-minutes-zapier-wade-foster


Where to find Wade:

X: https://x.com/wadefoster

Website: https://zapier.com


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For anyone building the future, Behind the Craft is a conversation with Peter Yang that moves beyond theory and into the tangible details of creation. This podcast lives in the messy, rewarding space where ideas become real products. Each episode is built on candid interviews with experts who have been in the trenches, dissecting the pivotal decisions, the unexpected hurdles, and the hard-won lessons that rarely make it into a polished case study. You’ll hear the unvarnished stories behind the features and companies shaping our world, focusing on the practical frameworks and mental models that effective product leaders and creators rely on daily. It’s about understanding the craft from the inside out-the strategic shifts, the team dynamics, the user insights that truly move the needle. Tune in for a direct, no-fluff dialogue designed to accelerate your own journey, providing actionable guidance you can apply immediately to level up your own work. This is where the blueprint meets the build.
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