After automation: weirdness is the best human advantage, argues Build First founder
every · x · 2026-09-11
Bethany Crystal, founder of Build First (previously Union Square Ventures, Stack Overflow), publishes an essay on every.to arguing "weirdness will be the best human advantage" after automation.
Key points:
- She runs solo a company that would have needed five humans pre-AI; AI hasn't just made her productive, it reintroduced playful, experimental ways of working.
- With AI she built Bingo card apps for friends, hyper-personalized playlists for clients, and relaunched her blog as a choose-your-own-adventure—not profitable, but long-held dreams.
- The 9-to-5 is decoupling into project-based interests centered on craft and passion; in a post-AGI world, quirky and extreme niches are what keep you human.
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