Episode 70: More on AI and Modeling with Jake McKee

Your hosts last talked with wonderfully imaginative modeler and Austin, TX-based tech consultant Jake McKee about the possibilities (and, yeah, some of the downsides) of Artificial Intelligence in the hobby back on Episode 55 in February 2025.

In hyper-speed tech-time, that might as well have been 250 years ago, recorded on parchment with quill and ink like the Declaration of Independence.

When he saw Barry at the Rocky Mountain Hobby Expo in May—and claimed the More Than Meets the Eye award sponsored by the Her Shrink Ray Eye podcast, as discussed on our last episode and featured in the last installment of this blog—Jake suggested to Barry that he had a whole lot new to say about AI and modeling based on his recent digital discoveries. And since he’s such an engaging and forward-thinking guest, you didn’t have to twist our arms to have him back for a return visit!

Some of the programs Jake mentions may sound abstract or inscrutable to some of our listeners. But a quick look at some screenshots he shared will illustrate their usefulness in organizing and creating.

As Jake mentioned, he also has a new podcast, Conversation Lab, that isn’t just about the hobby, but which is nevertheless great listening. And here are two of the 3D printers that came up in conversation, the Bambu Lab P1S and the Saturn 4 Ultra, as well as the laser foam-cutting machine he mentioned, the Glowforge Aura.

Finally, Jim talked about his visit to Fenris Workshop in Montreal—oh, for a shop this well-stocked in Chicago!—and his new timpano (or kettle drum, if you Napoleonic buffs prefer), which may not interest any of you (except for Dave “Last Cavalry” Youngquist), but which is bringing him great joy nonetheless. Thanks as always for looking and listening!