I Let AI Build My Portfolio Website: Here's What Actually Happened

The Transformative Potential of AI in Web Development and Solo Entrepreneurship

When I was operating in the tech startup space, I was always surrounded by talented people who had great ideas but lacked the resources to build a team and make the idea happen. Today, AI development tools are changing that narrative, making it easier than ever for anyone to transform concepts into reality.

My AI Development Tools Experiment

Caught in the midst of job searching, I decided to explore the capabilities of AI development tools like Vercel v0, Cursor, and PearAI. I first chose to rebuild my portfolio website using v0 to start experiencing what these tools offer.
(I will be sharing about Cursor and PearAI in future posts. Subscribe to get notified!)

I started with this version of my original portfolio website on Wix…

…and ended up with this new version of my website on Github Pages 🚀

The Unconventional Approach

Instead of creating detailed documentation or spending hours designing the layout, I took a "build as I go" approach. My strategy was simple: start with the most basic skeleton website and iteratively improve through continuous prompting and tweaking.

Beyond the code and commands, there's a story worth telling. I'll walk you through the step by step guide in the next post, but let's begin with the unexpected insights and lessons learned during my development journey.

Pros and Cons of Developing with v0

I didn’t intend to spend any money for hosting my website as there are many free solutions to launch a static site. This time, I chose to deploy my website with GitHub pages. The immediate upside is getting rid of the Wix ad banner, making my portfolio look that much more professional. In addition, I can streamline project management since the website is stored in a GitHub repository, making GitHub my central hub for everything dev-related.

Pros of v0

• Seamless Preview and Tweak: Front-end development becomes an interactive, real-time experience.

• Learning Accelerator: Going through AI-generated code is like having a 10x speed learning mechanism.

• More Flexibility: Unlike traditional website builders, v0 doesn't constrain you to predefined templates. You can make any component if you have the patience.

Cons of v0

• Time Investment: If you are not familiar with front-end web development or coding in general, building with AI can take longer than using services like Wix or Squarespace.

• Requires Active Engagement: You can't just sit back and get a working website with a few clicks; you need to keep guiding v0 and refining the output.

• AI Generation Instability: v0's outputs are not deterministic, meaning that successive prompts might unexpectedly alter or break previously working components of your website.

  • Note: v0 combats this by allowing users to easily restore to previous versions and resume working from that point. It automatically creates new versions whenever a new change is made.

    

Deeper Reflections

In the case of making a static portfolio website, it is definitely easier to just use a website builder. The real benefit of this project was the insights gained and the hands-on experience of working alongside AI development tools.

Learning Through Building

The most profound realization? I can start building beautiful web apps with zero React knowledge. Of course, knowing React or JavaScript would no doubt make the process even faster or be able to write more efficient code. I am definitely not saying that learning a front-end language is useless. However, I am saying that each line of AI-generated code became a learning opportunity for me. AI is always ready to explain any concept I didn't understand, making me understand front-end development in 10x speed.

As a strong believer of lifelong learning and “move fast break things”, I am excited that I can begin to learn a new programming language by building something that matters to me, rather than being trapped in tutorial hell, an endless loop that I know all too well. This approach challenges the traditional learning narrative. No more endless YouTube tutorials – now, learning can be an active, project-based experience.

Anyone can be a Solo Entrepreneur

Now, anyone has the tools to start a business (in software at least). v0 isn't replacing developers; it's just empowering more people to start building. For example, a backend engineer can now start making frontends for their web app idea. I can imagine people with creative ideas finally getting the tools to build without having to assemble a team or go through months of learning a programming language. As the AI boom does not seem to be stopping anytime soon, the barriers of running a business are lower than ever. Just look at the amount of Y Combinator startups that are devoted to this. (The issue of AI replacing workers is a topic for another day…)

AI Tools changed the skillset we need to master

Even with a Master's in Business Analytics, I've realized that the emergence of AI is fundamentally transforming the skillset required for knowledge workers, especially in the tech industry. The most critical skills are no longer just technical, but about how we interact with and leverage AI:

Critical Thinking: AI cannot independently create or initiate projects. The ability to identify meaningful problems, develop strategic approaches, and drive innovation remains uniquely human. These qualities make professionals irreplaceable in an AI-driven landscape.

Accountability: Since AI cannot be held responsible for its outputs, having a responsible mindset and the capacity to take ownership of outcomes becomes paramount. Professionals must critically evaluate and stand behind the results generated by AI tools (human-in-the-loop).

Precise Communication: Mastering the art of clear, strategic prompting is now a crucial skill. Success with AI tools depends on your ability to articulate requirements, provide context, and guide the AI towards desired outcomes.

Words of Caution: Always Be The One in Control

I've seen many horror stories online about how deploying a web app made with AI cost developers thousands of dollars due to not understanding how the code works. The danger lies not in the AI's capabilities, but in blind trust.

Every line of generated code should be:

• Carefully reviewed

• Understood before implementation

• Tested for potential cost and performance implications

Before deploying any AI-generated application, invest time in:

• Reading through the entire codebase

• Understanding each component's function

• Checking potential API usage and associated costs

• Setting up appropriate billing alerts and limits

I will always keep in mind: AI is a tool, not a replacement for technical judgment. Expertise in understanding, validating, and optimizing code remains the most critical safeguard against unexpected expenses and technical mistakes.

Final Thoughts

The journey of building a portfolio website using AI development tools like v0 reveals a transformative landscape for solo entrepreneurs and tech professionals. What began as an experimental project evolved into an exploration of AI's potential for web development and learning. The key takeaway is not about replacing technical skills, but about reshaping them: success now hinges on critical thinking, precise communication, and the ability to strategically collaborate with AI tools.

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