Zendesk’s CEO got real-life AI lessons from vibe coding an app with his son

In a recent CEO Daily article, Zendesk CEO Tom Eggemeier shared his firsthand experience with AI, as they coded an app together with his son Will. Tom had been telling his children since 2023 that AI would be "bigger than the printing press, the internet, the Industrial Revolution," and his son Will challenged him to prove it. Together, they created Underdog AI, an app designed to help college athletes find suitable competitors in the NCAA transfer portal.

Inspired by the ease of coding, they initially enjoyed the process, but they soon encountered technical issues related to security and API protocols. Will pointed out that the AI's recruitment suggestions were not accurate, leading to a significant amount of debugging work. The app's potential was limited, as it could only match about 70% of existing solutions, and Will couldn't sell to rival schools while still competing for BC.

Despite these setbacks, Will found it valuable to witness his father tackling problems in real time. This experience has shaped Tom's perspective on AI, encouraging him to invest in employee training and emphasize how AI can help people save time and resources. Tom recommends that CEOs use AI themselves, hire young employees with fluency in the technology, and create projects that address real-world issues using AI.