AI-Driven Startups Test Limits of Vibe Coding and Creativity

The emergence of AI-powered startups like Giggles is redefining entrepreneurship, enabling visionaries with a cultural understanding to create platform-level products without traditional engineering teams. However, questions surround the scalability of this model beyond prototype success.

Coined by Andrej Karpathy, “vibe coding” describes writing with AI using natural language, allowing non-technical developers to generate up to 95% of their codebase. This shift is democratizing entrepreneurship, but it also comes with challenges. As Nigel Douglas warned, a DIY disaster can occur if an app’s interface is ugly or security is compromised.

Giggles, founded by Justin Jin and his team, is a microcosm of this transformation. The platform uses AI-generated content, digital collectibles, and gamified social interactions to reward users for digital expression. However, as the company grows, it must balance creativity with coding discipline.

Industry stalwart Reid Hoffman notes that bringing AI into your toolkit makes you more attractive, but early AI advantage doesn’t equal long-term lead. As AI-generated code improves, practices around testing, review, and security must also evolve.

The rise of vibe coding is a reality, but the plot turns on whether these founders can turn creativity into real structure. As Justin Jin said, “It’s not just about who can build fast; it’s about who can build something that lasts.” The next decade will likely yield hybrid founders with vivid creative vision and AI fluency, bringing in veteran operators and engineers to solidify their products.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kolawolesamueladebayo/2025/08/04/how-vibe-coding-is-creating-a-new-ai-economy