#1 The Netscape Moment

Two seasoned tech veterans reflect on 30 years of building and how it prepared them for the AI revolution we're living through right now.

Ian, who studied computer science, reflects on his shift from coding to management — and his recent obsession with AI coding. Seth shares his journey from starting his first company in 1995 to working at Epicurious.com as an HTML programmer, and the awe he felt at the launch of Netscape, which he describes as a "Big Bang moment" for the web.

The conversation draws parallels between the internet boom and today's AI revolution. Both agree that while people may overestimate the immediate effects of AI, the long-term implications could be far greater than anticipated — echoing their experiences during the rise of the internet, where initial skepticism gave way to profound societal changes.

Seth draws an analogy to Oliver Sacks' stories, illustrating the feeling of suddenly unlocking new abilities, akin to playing an instrument without prior training. He expresses a mix of pride and imposter syndrome navigating AI without a formal coding background. Ian adds that the current era feels similar to the democratization of music production in the 90s, where barriers to entry were lowered, allowing more creativity and innovation.

"The future is already here — it's just not evenly distributed."