Earlier this year, I launched an AI learning lab called Build First which offers practical skills to teach AI fluency through hands-on immersions.
My favorite way of getting to learn and build AI this year has been doing it in public, iteratively, and collaboratively. So I’ve been inviting other folks to join along through a series of events and AI Power Hours, where we build something from 0-MVP in 60 minutes flat. Our October events are now live, including a couple of things happening this week.
I’d love to see you there. And if you’re interested in building with AI, collaborating on a future AI Power Hour, or upskilling yourself or your team on AI fluency, you know where to find me.
The first products I’ve embarked on within the Build First learning lab are ones for me and my kids to play and learn with AI together. Earlier this year, I created MuseKat, a family learning companion that turns museum visits into AI-powered audio stories. Over the summer, in partnership with Harlem Link Charter School, I launched Make with Miko, an AI-native literacy pilot program. Later this week, my collaborator Matt Hamilton and I are debuting Scribblins, an app that transforms kids’ art into AI-generated characters and printable stickers.
We’ve been exploring the question: What does it mean to raise kids (and build with your kids) in the AI era? Tomorrow, we’re hosting demos and a conversation with fellow parents in tech as part of NYC AI Week. We’ll share what we learn, and if you’re in New York, we’d love to have you join us.
The most powerful way to learn about AI is to see what’s possible in just a short period of time. Through a constraint-based building, AI power hours are a wonderful way to see how someone else starts a project with a new tool and workflow. So far, I’ve worked with 10 collaborators over the course of the last three months to build something from zero to MVP in 60 minutes flat.
Here are the power hours coming up for October:
Vibe coding isn’t just about the vibes you get stuck often, so troubleshooting is an essential next step. In this AI power hour, Suman Nichani, a product leader turned builder who vibe coded an app, get real-time debugging help from engineer Matt Hamilton. Learn how to troubleshoot your AI-built projects and level up your building skills.
One of my favorite parts about building with AI is seeing how people from Web2 harness their expertise in new ways. In this session, my friend and HR expert Kim Rohrer will join me to build a compensation calculator from scratch in just 60 minutes. Perfect for beginners - watch how to go from zero to a working MVP live on Zoom with a (hopefully!) working prototype on Replit.
RSVP
After attending a few AI power hours, Shiva Swaminathan reached out to ask about doing something fun and unique with video. Major opportunity area, particularly for the job seekers among us. In this power hour, we’ll explore how to create a compelling career journey video using AI video generation tools. Transform your professional story into a visual narrative with text-to-video prompts.
One of the most challenging parts about any new business endeavor is knowing how to get started. Long gone are the days of just setting up an email list or a Notion page when you can make a real website as a working prototype with AI no-code tools. In this Power Hour, Dhivya Arumugham will join us as we build a website for her new business endeavor, Math and Munch, which teaches kids about math while cooking. Perfect for beginners - watch how to go from zero to a working MVP with Replit in just 60 minutes.