What if you could build a fully functional app just by describing what you want it to do? That’s the power of vibe coding, using AI to turn plain language into software, allowing pretty much anyone to develop software in some form.
Chris Pirillo, the longtime tech enthusiast and entrepreneur, joins the GeekWire Podcast this week to discuss how this new paradigm is opening up new possibilities, as illustrated by his own experience going from commentator to creator, building nearly 100 apps and games since March.
Examples include a musical instrument emulator, a “touch grass” simulator poking fun at internet culture, a math game for his daughter, and even a fake Zoom meeting app to make it look like you’re busy.
“I’ve featured software, I talk about software, I’ve reviewed software, and suddenly I can do it!” said Pirillo, who got his start doing live tech support call-in shows before building his Lockergnome media and events company.
Now, he’s launching a free, in-person event series called CTRL+ALT+CREATE Live, where anyone can build something real using AI and no-code tools. The first event takes place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Amazon AWS Skills Center in Seattle.
Pirillo likens the shift to a historical power dynamic now being upended, giving everyday users access to the kinds of capabilities previously limited to experienced software developers.
“We’re no longer these peasants at the bottom of this ziggurat, looking up to the high priest, going, ‘How do you do that?’ How do you make the clouds go away?’” he said. “Like, no. We have that power in our hands.”
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