Can Business Leaders Code? Nigel Cooper on AI Development

What happens when a business strategist who despises AI-generated content builds an AI writing platform? Nigel Jay Cooper spent a decade coaching professionals on authentic LinkedIn presence—until he decided to fight the flood of "beige" ChatGPT posts by developing software. The twist: he used AI as his development team. In this episode, Stephen uncovers how business people can now develop software without code, why authentic storytelling still matters in the age of AI, and what it means for business strategy when your tools do the heavy lifting.

Nigel Jay Cooper found himself in exactly that position. He'd spent a decade training professionals and teams in employee advocacy to create authentic LinkedIn content. He was also determined to fight the flood of ‘beige’ content generated by ChatGPT et al - thoughtless, generic posts lacking personality and spark.

His first instinct was to fight against AI. But when everyone kept using it anyway, he realised he was fighting the wrong battle. The question wasn't whether people would use AI. The question was: can they use it in a way that reflects their personality, experience and humanity? So he set out to build Ghostart, even though he's not a software developer.

Listen to this episode of Curious Business as Nigel shares how he built Ghostart over the past year, and discusses:

• The beige content crisis: Why AI-generated LinkedIn posts are "soul destroying" and how people remove themselves from their own voice
• Building with AI: Using different models for different purposes, learning through trial and error, and managing the "700,000 suggestions you didn't want" that the LLMs tend to spit out
• The technical journey: From two aborted platform attempts to the approach that makes AI development productive and effective
• The Beige-ometer: Training an AI writing coach in rhythm, emotion, and storytelling - not optimising to LinkedIn's algorithm
• Why your beta test should make you feel ashamed: The essential advice that propelled the platform forward

 

Chapters:

0:01:06 - The Beige Content Problem

0:04:27 - Who Ghost Art Serves

0:09:10 - Building with AI - The Vibe Coding Reality

0:11:47 - Tools and Techniques

0:17:31 - Keeping AI Focused

0:21:20 - The Hardest Parts to Build

0:27:17 - The Beta Launch

0:30:53 - What Users Actually Valued

0:35:47 - Lessons and Success

 

Links:

More about Ghostart and try it free:
https://ghostart.io

Request a demo:
https://ghostart.io/teams/demo

Connect with Nigel on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigeljaycooper/

 

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