Curiosity Meets AI
Technology shifts every semester. The one trait that never goes out of date is curiosity. In my work with students and small business owners, the simple question "What happens if I try this?" turns new tools into real-world wins.
Curiosity: The Skill That Compounds
Click the new button, try the beta feature, and search the term you just heard. From 2019 to 2024, this mindset moved us from early Wix websites and Notion dashboards to AI that drafts complete marketing plans. Tools will keep shifting, but curiosity keeps you learning.
A Major Shift in AI
For years, AI helpers such as ChatGPT and Claude have offered advice or acted as interns, rather than built finished products. That changed in February 2025 when I tried Replit Agent. Now I can describe an app in plain language, and the agent sets up the repo, writes the code, and runs it in minutes. We moved from "AI, give me ideas" to "AI, build this for me."
The Push-Up Tracker Moment
My first test was remixing a push-up tracker shared by Replit's Matt Palmer. I kept the base code, chatted with the agent, and had a working fitness app up and running within hours. No budget, no engineering team, just prompts and curiosity. It showed how thin the line is between idea and solution today.
Curiosity Meets Real Problems
That breakthrough sparked bigger wins. We built:
A live recovery dashboard for Sanibel Island (see "Turning Sanibel Recovery Data into a Live Dashboard")
A custom CRM and project board for our hub (see "Built a Custom CRM and Project Board in Two Weeks with Replit Agent")
Each project followed the same path: research the problem with ChatGPT or Claude, craft a plan, then let Replit Agent build the first draft.
Empowering Students and Small Businesses
Students who once feared coding now ship portfolio apps. Business owners who thought custom software was out of reach built tools that fit their workflow exactly. You know your needs better than any subscription service. Today's AI builders let you create that exact fit.
A Quick Start Guide
Pick a minor pain point.
Research with ChatGPT or Claude to frame the problem and outline features.
Bring the plan to Replit Agent and ask it to build.
Run, test, and refine by adjusting your prompt.
Remix existing projects whenever possible to learn more efficiently.
Treat every attempt as an experiment. Each "failure" simply reveals what to try next.
Tools Change, Curiosity Endures
Five years ago, we built websites using Wix, Squarespace, and Bubble. Two years ago, we relied on chatbots for drafts. Now we research and plan with Claude and ChatGPT, and build with Replit Agent. The next wave will surprise us again, and curiosity will keep us ready.
Takeaway
Curiosity turns new tech into practical solutions. Pair research tools like ChatGPT and Claude with builders like Replit Agent, and you can move from idea to working product faster than ever. Pick a problem, start experimenting, and see where it leads.