After exploring how AI is transforming software engineering, I decided to put these ideas to the test-by building and monetizing a website using only AI-powered tools.
Turning “Vibe Coding” Into Real Results
In my recent post about the AI revolution in software engineering, I dove into the rise of “vibe coding”-where developers prompt AI in plain language, review its output, and iterate, instead of writing every line by hand.
But how does this actually play out when you’re building something real? Here’s my firsthand look at the process.
My Experience: AI in the Wild
On my personal blog, smiller.io, I documented the journey of launching a monetized website with AI tools. The experiment was eye-opening-a practical case study of what “AI-first” development really looks like.
In “The Good, The Bad, and The Random: Launching a Monetized Site with AI”, I break down:
- Which AI tools I used (and why)
- Where AI made things easier-and where it tripped me up
- The curveballs and surprises along the way
- How I approached monetization with AI in the mix
- The time and effort saved compared to traditional workflows
What I Learned: Key Takeaways
Here’s what stood out from the process-echoing many themes from our ongoing delivery enablement discussions:
“Vibe Coding” Is Real-and Powerful
Just like Andrej Karpathy describes, I spent more time crafting prompts and reviewing AI-generated solutions than actually writing code. It felt less like coding, more like collaborating with a super-fast, occasionally quirky pair programmer.
Human Oversight Still Matters
AI can get you 80% of the way there, but you still need to:
- Catch subtle bugs and integration issues
- Enforce security and data privacy best practices
- Maintain consistency in style and architecture
My experience as a developer was essential for steering the project and keeping quality high.
Speed vs. Quality: The Tradeoff
AI made development dramatically faster-but sometimes at the expense of clean, maintainable code. I ran into “sloppy code” that technically worked but would have been a nightmare to support long-term. The lesson? Fast doesn’t always mean better.
What This Means for Delivery Teams
- AI is a force multiplier, not a replacement.
It accelerates delivery but still relies on skilled humans for oversight and polish. - Developer roles are evolving.
Framing problems and validating AI output are now core skills. - Prompting is the new superpower.
The better you communicate with AI, the better your results. - Strong review processes are non-negotiable.
AI needs a safety net-and that’s your team.
Ready to Try It? Here’s How to Start
Curious about building with AI? Start small-pick a low-stakes project and experiment. You’ll learn more in a week of hands-on tinkering than from a month of reading.
If you want a seriously powerful, privacy-first AI code editor, check out Windsurf (that’s my referral link). Windsurf is packed with features like unlimited AI autocomplete, in-editor chat, and robust privacy controls-making it a standout for anyone looking to supercharge their workflow without sacrificing control or security[6].
For a detailed, honest breakdown of my experience-including what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently-head over to smiller.io.
Wrapping Up
The AI revolution in software engineering isn’t just hype-it’s happening now, and it’s changing how we build, ship, and monetize online projects. By pairing AI’s speed with human expertise, you can deliver faster without sacrificing quality.
Have you tried “vibe coding” or building with AI? What’s worked for you? Drop your thoughts in the comments-I’d love to hear your stories.
For more practical insights on AI-assisted development and delivery enablement, subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on social.
Sources
[1] I Tested 6 AI Website Builders: Which Should You Use? https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/website-builders/best-ai-website-builders/
[2] The 4 best AI website builders: Build a website with AI – Zapier https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-website-builder/
[3] 8 Best AI Website Builders (2025): Tried, Tested & Reviewed – Tech.co https://tech.co/website-builders/best-ai-website-builders
[4] Best Website Builders in 2025: I Tested 5 — Here’s My Honest Review https://www.reddit.com/r/software/comments/1kbdwe1/best_website_builders_in_2025_i_tested_5_heres_my/
[5] 11 Best AI Website Builders to Design Your Site in 2025 – Shopify https://www.shopify.com/blog/ai-website-builder
[6] Why Windsurf is the Best Free AI Code Editor You’ve Never Heard Of https://dev.to/dev_michael/why-windsurf-is-the-best-free-ai-code-editor-youve-never-heard-of-3ofj
[7] Websites to Make Money in 2025: Ultimate Monetization Guide https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/websites-make-money-2025-ultimate-monetization-guide-sudha-singh-b6saf
[8] List of AI Website Builders Available in 2025 – Futurepedia https://www.futurepedia.io/ai-tools/website-builders
[9] 13 Profitable Website Monetization Strategies you haven’t tried yet https://www.monetizemore.com/blog/website-monetization-strategies-for-publisher/
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