About A Chat With AI

Who We Are

A Chat With AI is an independent, founder-letter publication exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, platform sovereignty, and modern work. The site is published and maintained by Patrick Roden.

Patrick Roden is the CIO/CEO of On Top Home Services LLC implementing the SQUEIL project. His writing draws on firsthand experience building AI-augmented systems and navigating the practical realities of technology adoption in small-business and enterprise contexts.

Our Mission

A Chat With AI exists to provide clear, honest, and practical insights into conversational AI and the broader implications of machine intelligence for individuals and organizations. We believe that understanding AI should not require a PhD or a venture-capital budget.

Our focus areas include:

• Platform sovereignty — how individuals and small businesses can maintain control of their digital infrastructure in an era of consolidating platforms.
• AI-augmented work — practical applications of AI tools in day-to-day business operations, with honest assessments of what works and what does not.
• SQUEIL build narration — a transparent, ongoing account of building the SQUEIL project from the ground up, including technical decisions, setbacks, and lessons learned.
• Policy critique — analysis of AI policy, regulation, and industry trends from an independent, practitioner-first perspective.

Publication Format

This is primarily a founder-letter publication. Articles are editorial commentary, first-person field notes, and build narratives rather than traditional news reporting. We prioritize transparency about our perspective and disclose our interests openly. For more details, see our Editorial Standards and Ethics Policy.