Founders' Journey - Episode 122

In a world divided, we need some perspectives

Jun 13, 2025

Each week, I write about building in the age of AI, what excites us, what confuses us, and what often gets missed.

Lately though, I’ve been struck by how much of the conversation feels stuck in binary terms.

AI is either overhyped or underestimated. It’s either going to replace us or revolutionize us. It’s “smarter than humans” or “just fancy autocomplete.” The debates are loud, polarizing, and often not very useful.

But underneath all that noise, something quieter and much more interesting is happening.

People are learning to live with AI. To work with it. To make sense of what it means to be human in a world where some of what we do can now be done by machines. And that’s the part I wanted to capture.

Introducing: Perspectives

Today I’m launching a side project that means a lot to me. It’s called Perspectives, and it’s a living archive of real stories from professionals navigating change in the age of AI.

Not case studies. Not product demos. Not LinkedIn humblebrags.

Just real(ish) people, telling honest stories, sometimes uncertain, sometimes funny, sometimes quietly profound.

What makes this project different?

🔹 Every story is narrated by a real human voice (mine, for now) because voice carries the emotion that text alone can’t.

🔹 Each one comes with AI-generated perspectives that help us shed light on particular topics. Additionally, AI can also help you reflect on the story more deeply.

🔹 It’s not about what AI can do. It’s about what AI can reveal...about us.

Try it out here: https://aiperspectives.netlify.app/

The First Two Stories: The Art of Showing Up

We start in a law firm. Two lawyers. Two generations. Two very different takes on what “showing up” really means.

📖 The Ironic Art of Showing Up

by a (begrudgingly) reformed Gen Z lawyer

This is the story of someone who became a lawyer not to commute, but to contribute. Someone who came of age during Zoom university and remote clerkships—who thought in-office days were a relic of the past. So when the firm suddenly mandated three office days a week, she didn’t just resist. She was offended.

But then something shifted.

She began to notice things. Accidental hallway chats that sparked real ideas. Casual lunches that built trust. A senior partner who remembered her name—not because of a scheduled call, but because they crossed paths in the kitchen.

What started as resistance turned into revelation. Showing up wasn’t just about face-time—it was about serendipity. About context. About all the things that don’t happen on a calendar invite.

▶️ Listen or read her story: https://aiperspectives.netlify.app/story/5

📖 Billable Hours and Being Real: Lessons I Didn't Expect to Learn from Gen Z

by a reluctantly enlightened senior associate

Then there’s the other side of the table.

This story comes from a senior lawyer who assumed Gen Z hires just didn’t “get it.” They weren’t around enough. Didn’t grasp the importance of presence. How could they grow without being seen?

But over time, something unexpected happened.

He started learning from them. He saw how younger lawyers blended vulnerability with professionalism. How they set boundaries that actually helped their performance. How they redefined what it meant to “show up”, not always physically, but emotionally and mentally.

For someone used to measuring output in hours and presence in bodies, this was uncomfortable. But it was also eye-opening.

▶️ Listen or read his story: https://aiperspectives.netlify.app/story/6

Why I Built This

In tech, we love metrics. We want fast feedback loops. We talk about “synthetic surveys” and “human-in-the-loop” systems.

But in a world that feels increasingly divided and digitized, what we really need are tools that bring us closer together. Tools that help us understand each other—not just through data, but through stories.

Perspectives is that kind of tool. A place where AI isn’t the hero or the villain... it’s the amplifier. The highlighter. The thing that helps us see what's already there, but clearer.

So if you’ve ever wondered how others are feeling about the future—this is for you.

📚 Browse the stories

🎧 Listen with voice

🤖 Use AI to reflect

And if you have a story to share, get in touch. Let’s keep building—and listening—together.