TFTC Podcast #695 Summary

Episode Title: Gen Alpha Is Already Building the Future With AI
Host: Marty Bent
Guest: Stella (a.k.a. @somewhatstella, 15-year-old student at Alpha School)
Date: December 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of TFTC features Marty Bent speaking with Stella, the youngest guest ever on the show. At 15 years old, Stella offers a firsthand Gen Alpha perspective on adopting AI, entrepreneurship, Bitcoin, and alternative education models. They discuss how AI is transforming creativity, job markets, and motivation for young people, and the innovative environment at Alpha School in Austin. Stella shares insights into building her AI-powered project "Bibliarc" and reflects on the potential for AI, Bitcoin, and student-driven learning to shape the future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reaching Younger Generations With Bitcoin & Tech

• Marty observes the show has an older audience and is eager to bring Gen Z/Alpha perspectives to the Bitcoin and tech conversation.
  • "We've been doing this for eight years...Stella, you are our youngest guest at 15 years old." (00:31)

2. Alpha School Model & Student Autonomy

• Stella describes moving from homeschooling and community college to Alpha School due to seeking greater challenge and autonomy.
  • "I always preferred the idea of being an entrepreneur rather than working for somebody else. And so Alpha seemed like a perfect fit." (02:28)
• Alpha School encourages students to:
  • Take charge of their learning, spending mornings on core subjects but with flexible order and approach (03:35)
  • Enjoy autonomy outside academics, even roaming downtown Austin
  • Pursue a four-year-long "Masterpiece" project that is passion-driven

3. The ‘Masterpiece’ Passion Project

• Each student works on an ambitious, multi-year project, often integrating AI.
• Stella’s project started as a website for visual note-taking (soon to be a Sims-inspired AI sandbox game).

4. Integrating AI in Learning & Creation

• Early AI Adoption: Stella started using AI tools as soon as ChatGPT launched (~2022), influenced by her parents' excitement.
• Uses of AI:
  • AI is heavily used for creative/passion projects rather than academic tasks to avoid dishonesty (05:33)
  • For coding, Stella mainly uses Claude (by Anthropic) and occasionally ChatGPT.
  • "My entire website...I made it all with Claude code. I don't know any coding myself." (07:21)

5. Showcasing the Project: Bibliarc

• Bibliarc (bibliarch.com) is a visual, interactive tool for storytellers to design, outline, and map relationships for fictional universes.
• Stella walks Marty through how it works, highlighting:
  • Relationship mapping between characters
  • Visual storyboard templates
  • Simplicity and responsiveness of the UI
• Problem Solved: Lower cost and more storage compared to alternatives like Milanote (11:51)

6. Ambitions for Bibliarc & Monetization

• Bibliarc aims to form the backbone for a future AI-driven storytelling simulation game (like The Sims, but plot-based).
• Stella is building a paid "multiplayer" tier for collaborative world-building.
• Monetization: Donations (prefers Bitcoin) and upcoming subscription model.

7. Bitcoin Perspective

• Stella has saved in Bitcoin since early childhood, believes it is a hedge against inflation.
  • "I had pretty much all of my savings in Bitcoin and so because of that I pretty much avoided all that massive inflation." (21:36)

8. AI, Agency, and the Job Market

• AI as Enabler: Stella believes AI will shift, not diminish, job opportunities—opening doors for independent creators.
  • "AI is exactly a harm to the job market, but rather that it will change the kind of jobs available...allowing more people to be their own boss." (14:40)
• Concerns that some peers lack motivation or initiative to fully leverage available tools (16:00)
• Optimism for Gen Alpha, having earlier and more natural AI exposure (17:46)

9. Challenges in Building and Learning With AI

• Early coding with Claude was occasionally frustrating due to model missteps; backups were vital.
• Sees AI models improving rapidly, making coding more accessible ("Why even learn to code after this?") (26:58)

10. Reflections on Education Systems and Hope for the Future

• Wishes the autonomy and creativity fostered at Alpha School could be adopted in public education (27:34)
• Critical of traditional (Prussian) schooling for treating children as future workers rather than nurturing passions (28:29)
• Hope for Gen Z/Alpha: Less negativity and more optimism about using powerful new tools and embracing innovation
  • "I just wish that, you know, my generation could be more positive and more like, oh, this is a good tool we can use." (29:10)

11. Gen Z, Innovation, and Social Change

• Recognizes cyclical skepticism of new technologies (Internet, Industrial Revolution, AI) (31:33)
• Predicts AI will spark an explosion in niche, small-size entrepreneurship (32:38)

12. Peers’ Projects at Alpha School

• Examples of classmates’ Masterpiece projects:
  • AI Teddy Bear
  • AI Dating Coach for teens
  • Running app inspired by Pokémon
  • True crime case simulations for teens
  • Nonprofits
  • Modular clothing lines
  • Streaming culture is big, but not necessarily personally engaging for Stella (34:30)

Notable Quotes

• “I always preferred the idea of being an entrepreneur rather than working for somebody else. And so Alpha seemed like a perfect fit.”
  — Stella (02:28)

• “My entire website...I made it all with Claude code. I don't know any coding myself.”
  — Stella (07:21)

• “I don't think that AI is exactly a harm to the job market, but rather that it will change the kind of jobs available...allowing more people to be their own boss and make their own products.”
  — Stella (14:40)

• “I've been investing in bitcoin since like way before 2020 when I was like 5 and 2015...so I had pretty much all of my savings in bitcoin and so because of that I pretty much avoided all that massive inflation.”
  — Stella (21:36)

• “Why even learn to code after this?”
  — Stella, on the rapid improvement in AI coding capabilities (26:58)

• “I just wish that...my generation could be more positive and more like, oh, this is a good tool we can use...rather than only focusing on the downsides.”
  — Stella (29:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:28] – Stella’s motivations for joining Alpha School
• [03:35] – Daily structure and autonomy at Alpha School
• [04:20] – The “Masterpiece” project explained
• [07:21] – Using AI (Claude) to build Bibliarc with little coding knowledge
• [10:00]-[11:36] – Demo and discussion of Bibliarc project
• [11:51] – Why create Bibliarc? (cost, accessibility)
• [14:40] – AI and agency: thoughts on automation and jobs
• [17:46] – Gen Alpha’s early adoption of AI
• [21:36] – Early savings and preference for Bitcoin
• [26:58] – On the exponential growth of AI coding tools
• [29:10] – Stella’s hope for her generation’s mindset
• [33:23] – Examples of peers’ projects at Alpha School
• [34:30] – The rise of streaming and its culture
• [35:33] – Stella’s primary message for the audience

Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The conversation is candid, energetic, and optimistic, highlighting the drive, curiosity, and practical ambition of Gen Alpha. Stella’s experience demonstrates how alternative educational models and early immersion in AI and Bitcoin can empower young people to innovate. Marty closes by emphasizing the need for education systems to foster agency and entrepreneurship, with Stella’s story serving as a beacon for what’s possible when young people are given the right tools and encouragement.

Primary Takeaways

• AI is a transformative creative tool for youth—especially when combined with motivation and autonomy.
• Alpha School’s educational model empowers students to pursue big, meaningful projects and real-world skills.
• Bitcoin is embraced by digitally native youth as both an investment and a way to avoid currency debasement.
• The biggest hurdle for Gen Z/Alpha is not technology, but motivation—those who seize agency will flourish.
• The future job market will reward independent creators and those able to wield AI to bring unique ideas to life.

Closing Quote

“AI is the future, better embrace the future. I mentioned that already, but...that's a good message for an older audience because I tend to see older people kind of rebelling against new technology...I feel like they're pretty innovative.”
— Stella (35:33)

[For more, visit: bibliarch.com and follow TFTC for conversations at the crossroads of Bitcoin, technology, and the next generation.]