They built an AI tool that called 20,000 gas stations. Here's their advice for aspiring engineers.

Matt Cortland found himself on the receiving end of his mother's frustration regarding soaring gas prices in the U.S. In early April, as prices averaged around $4 per gallon, she urged him to take action. In response, Cortland and his partner, John Fleming, who specializes in AI research at the University of Oxford, created Gas Index, a website designed to track gas prices. To develop this tool, they employed various AI technologies, including a phone bot that called nearly 20,000 gas stations nationwide to gather pricing updates. The duo invested around $5,000 and launched the site within just a few days. Having successfully built their AI-driven product, Cortland and Fleming have valuable advice for budding engineers: utilize AI as both a resource and a mentor, and don't shy away from pushing it to be critical. They emphasize the importance of prompting AI systems to critique their work rather than simply agreeing with them. "You can instruct it, 'Hey, my friend has an idea, I think it's really stupid,'" Fleming shared, highlighting a creative approach to getting constructive feedback from AI. Cortland often requests AI to "explain it to me like I'm an idiot," while Fleming encourages his models to challenge his assumptions. "His models are really mean," Cortland joked. This approach allows them to use AI as a tutor during the software development process, learning best practices along the way. "We're not trained engineers, but AI can coach us to build those skills effectively," Fleming noted. Equally important is the encouragement to showcase their creations to the public. This philosophy aligns with advice from prominent figures in Silicon Valley, such as LinkedIn's CEO Ryan Roslansky and Greylock partner Reid Hoffman. "We aim to assist everyone in overcoming a common challenge," Cortland remarked. "Building in public is a way to share ideas, demonstrate your skills, and discuss the tools and methods you employed."