Team Changes with AI

Generative artificial intelligence is changing how we do things every day. And with OpenAI’s recent announcement of o3, these changes are about to accelerate even faster. When I think about how AI helped me build The Alchemist, I can’t help but be excited by AI’s potential to let people take bigger risks with lower stakes, cost, and consequences.

Breaking the Old Mold

Traditionally, building a new product could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and involve dozens of people. If the idea didn’t work, it could set teams—and sometimes careers—back. This environment made people wary of standing out or taking bold chances. But now, AI is removing barriers and lowering the cost of experimentation.

Building “The Alchemist” with AI

My first prototype for The Alchemist, which got me accepted into the DMZ Program, was built entirely with AI. I used AI for:
• Programming the entire MVP.
• Creating hand-drawn illustrations.
• Writing initial content (before expert review).
• Brainstorming new ideas and features.

Even after joining the DMZ, I leaned heavily on AI for research, content creation, and rapid iteration. In under three months, I took an idea, built it out (for a second time), and brought it to market—faster and more efficiently than ever before.

The Power of Small Teams

Now, imagine dozens of small teams—just three or four people—rapidly bringing ideas to life. Sure, not every concept will work, but the lower cost of failure means you can try more things and learn faster. Personally, I’d rather see a dozen new ideas tested in a single quarter than spend a year on a handful of “safe bets.” Innovation thrives when we allow ourselves to explore and pivot quickly.

Looking Ahead

I truly believe this is where business is heading: empowering small, nimble teams to innovate and take risks. With the rise of o3 and the dawn of AGI, it will be simpler than ever to build, ship, and create. I’m excited to bring this mindset to my next opportunity—and I look forward to collaborating with others who see the same potential in AI.

If you’re as passionate about leveraging AI to transform how we work and innovate, I’d love to connect. Let’s explore the next big idea together.