This week I’m back from SF Tech Week, and I wanted to share five themes I saw and really enjoyed. We’ve talked about a lot of these ideas on patch before, but for me, actually using tools like Codex and seeing what agentic AI can do has been pretty incredible.

This is the patch:

• The power behind AI and the infrastructure explored at Neocloud Summit
• AI that does the task and what Camp AI, hosted by Auth0, covered about building and securing agents
• Shopping 3.0 with Arcade, where describing something you want could become a way to get it made
• We also get into Lilly and a16z’s event on AI in drug discovery
• Creator Clubhouse and how creators help us understand where these tools fit into our lives

Then we close with my work travel essentials: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil, Everyday Chemist Lip Grease, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, my Rebecca Minkoff Perfect Tote in Black, and the Aritzia Sweatfleece sets I’ve been reaching for after months of being on the go.

If you want a little more background, check out

• 2026 tech predictions + new year work style for AI’s growing energy needs and agentic AI
• the ai bubble: lessons from the dot-com era + patchperfect’s work holiday gift guide for the infrastructure behind it all
• There’s also discernment > data: from textbox to toolbox, my conversation with Glendon Hass about AI that can use tools and why we still need to make the final call.

All views expressed are my own.