How I AI: "Vibe-coding a Kid-Friendly AI Fortune Teller for Your Halloween Festivities"
Guest: Marco Casalaina (VP Products, Core AI, Microsoft)
Host: Claire Vo
Release Date: October 31, 2025
Episode Overview
In this impromptu Halloween special of How I AI, host Claire Vo is joined by Marco Casalaina for a rapid, live demonstration of how to "vibe-code" an AI-powered, kid-friendly fortune teller app. Instead of a traditional guest interview, technical hiccups and "haunted" logistics lead to a live, playful showcase of how AI tools like GitHub Spark can quickly create practical, fun technology for family events. The episode serves as a lively example for parents and tinkerers aiming to use AI to add magic to everyday life, with plenty of tips, laughs, and kid-centric examples along the way.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Setting the Scene: Halloween Block Party Fortune Telling
-
Marco's Halloween Tradition (01:00):
- Every year, Marco dresses as Captain Picard and acts as fortune teller during his block’s Halloween festivities.
- Previously, he used GPT-3/4 to pre-generate kid-friendly fortunes, stored in a note on his phone for live use.
- Hundreds of neighborhood kids participate, and the approach is always tailored to their age and excitement.
-
Describing the DIY Tech Setup:
- Simple crystal ball with LED lights for ambiance. Fortunes are selected and read aloud.
- Notable quote: "It’s not a high tech crystal ball. It has nothing but a couple of LED lights in it." — Marco (01:37)
Live AI App-Building Demo
-
Choosing an AI Tool (02:45):
- Marco decides to use GitHub Spark to generate a mobile app that gives a new fortune at the tap of a button.
- Claire is surprised and excited: “Was not expecting a GitHub Spark today on Halloween. So this is exciting for me.” (02:54)
- Marco compares the process to making flashcards for his daughter’s chemistry class, showcasing the flexibility of these tools (03:28).
-
"Vibe Coding" in Action
- Marco prompts Spark: “Make a mobile app which when I click a button, generates a new fortune in the context of a fortune teller.” (03:01)
- Real-time commentary as Spark creates a PRD, HTML, and CSS for the app.
- Memorable moment: “This is, this is vibe coding or anyway front end vibe coding as we do it today.” — Marco (04:32)
Practical Tips and Workflows for AI Projects
- Polishing the Product with Spec Kit (05:10):
- For more serious projects, Marco uses Speckit to generate feature specifications and consider edge cases (like handling user feedback in an AI agent).
- Quote: “When you use Speckit, it throws these questions at me... It helps you write a better spec.” — Marco (06:18)
- Recommendation: Speckit is free and works with various tools like GitHub Copilot, FUD code, and Cursor.
Testing and Refining the Fortune Teller App
-
First Test Fortune (06:41):
- Initial output is poetic but abstract:
- Claire reads: “In the tapestry of the cosmos, the stars weave a path illuminated by your dreams. Trust in their guiding light.” (06:53)
- Claire: “What I like about this is it is completely ambiguous and means nothing. Excellent, excellent fortune.” (06:56)
- Initial output is poetic but abstract:
-
Making It Kid-Friendly and Fun
- Marco adjusts prompts: “Make each fortune only one sentence and make it kid friendly.” (07:15)
- Second example is gentler but still abstract:
- “When you sprinkle kindness like fairy dust, the whole world transforms into a playground of magical adventures and shimmering smiles.” (07:55)
- Claire and Marco note that the language could be even more concrete and humorous.
-
Iterative Prompting for Better Output (08:11-09:17):
- Ongoing refinement for clarity, humor, and simplicity—including fortunes like:
- “This week you will find a shiny rock that looks like a slice of pizza and makes everyone giggle...” (09:23)
- “Today a fluffy squirrel will steal your snack but then share a secret about the best hiding spots in the park.” (10:04)
- Real-world anecdote: a child took Marco’s AI-generated fortune very seriously, searching for a new friend all day at school. (08:52)
- Ongoing refinement for clarity, humor, and simplicity—including fortunes like:
Ideas for Listeners and Final Thoughts
-
Claire’s Halloween Plans (10:21):
- She plans to adapt the AI fortune teller with a “spooky voice” for her own block party, emphasizing the ease of customizing Marco’s workflow.
-
Encouragement for Creative AI Use:
- Both speakers hope listeners will try similar projects and share their own “vibe-code” stories.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
- Marco (01:37): “It’s not a high tech crystal ball. It has nothing but a couple of LED lights in it.”
- Claire (02:54): “Was not expecting a GitHub Spark today on Halloween. So this is exciting for me.”
- Marco (04:32): “This is, this is vibe coding or anyway front end vibe coding as we do it today.”
- Marco (06:18): “When you use Speckit, it throws these questions at me... It helps you write a better spec.”
- Claire (06:56): “What I like about this is it is completely ambiguous and means nothing. Excellent, excellent fortune.”
- Marco (07:29): “You gotta admit though, I mean, it's pretty freaking good on the first try.”
- Marco (09:23): “This week you will find a shiny rock that looks like a slice of pizza and makes everyone giggle…”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00-01:00 — Claire introduces the “haunted” episode and Marco’s block party tradition
- 01:00-02:30 — Marco explains the history of his AI-generated Halloween fortune telling
- 02:30-05:00 — Choosing and setting up GitHub Spark to build the app live
- 05:00-06:40 — Using Spec Kit to write stronger specs for serious projects
- 06:40-08:30 — First fortunes and live feedback, shifting tone for kid-friendliness
- 08:30-09:45 — Concrete, funny kid fortunes and real-life stories
- 09:45-10:40 — Claire plans to adopt the tool for her party, final demonstration
- 10:40-end — Wrap-up, encouragement to share projects, and tease for future episodes
Takeaway
This lively, hands-on episode highlights the practical side of AI’s creative potential. Marco and Claire demystify the process of “vibe coding” with large language models—showing just how quickly you can spin up real, joyful apps with today’s tools. If you’re looking for an excuse to build something whimsical, family-friendly, and AI-driven, this is required listening!