DHH: Why AI Isn't Writing My Code (Yet)
Is the "Blockbuster Launch" dead? Is AI actually writing production code, or is it just a really good tutor?
In this episode of Next Token, we sit down with DHH (David Heinemeier Hansson) - creator of Ruby on Rails, co-founder of 37signals (Basecamp & HEY), and Le Mans racing driver.
David pulls no punches as we discuss the "Amish" rejection of AI, why the EU’s cookie banner regulation destroyed the user experience, and the reality of using AI at 37signals. We also dive deep into the launch of his new project, Fizzy, and why he believes 95% of the code was still better written by humans.
In this episode, we cover:
The "Cookie Banner" Blight & The State of the Web
• 00:00 - Intro: Why DHH loves computers.
• 01:21 - The Cookie Banner Rant: How regulation "smashed the windows" of the web.
• 06:09 - The future of browsing: Will humans even read the web anymore?
AI, Hype, and Real-World Usage
• 08:50 - Comparing the AI revolution to the Internet (1995) and iPhone (2007).
• 15:32 - How 37signals actually uses AI (and why it didn't write Fizzy).
• 20:11 - A winning AI use case: Automating security bug bounty triage.
• 24:25 - Using a "sense of wonder" to combat AI anxiety.
The New Rules of Marketing & Launching
• 25:12 - The death of the "Blockbuster Launch" & the new marketing reality.
• 30:30 - The "Jab, Jab, Right Hook" strategy is dead: Blending value with the ask.
• 36:47 - Why algorithms hate corporate accounts (and love personal ones).
• 41:00 - Marketing fundamentals vs. the insatiable speed of feeds.
Software Development & Competence
• 46:22 - Is the "Indie Hacker" dream still alive in 2025?
• 50:42 - The "Saddle Maker": AI for learning vs. AI for writing code.
• 55:25 - Leaving the Cloud: Saving $2 million a year.
• 56:19 - The danger of "Vibe Coding" and losing competence (e.g., forgetting Bash).
• 59:00 - AI as a "flickering light bulb": Amazing but unreliable.
Closing
• 01:02:45 - Introducing Fizzy: A fresh, open-source take on Kanban.
Links & Resources:
• Check out Fizzy: https://fizzy.do
• DHH’s Blog: https://dhh.dk
• 37signals: https://37signals.com
About Next Token:
Next Token is the podcast for developers and builders navigating the AI shift. We talk to the brightest minds in tech about what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s next.
Presented by Amp:
Amp is the AI coding agent that helps you build faster. Check us out at https://ampcode.com
Hosts:
• Ryan Carson https://ryancarson.com
• Thorsten Ball https://thorstenball.com
#DHH #RubyOnRails #SaaS #AI #SoftwareDevelopment #37signals #NextToken #AmpCode