Retreat to attack (Friends)

What It Covers

Adam and Jared explore the Alive Internet Theory as a counter to dead internet pessimism, discuss Forward Deployed Engineers as the fastest-growing AI role, examine React's dominance in AI-generated code, and share experiences building software with AI agents while debating compression algorithms and mesh networks.

Key Questions Answered

• •Alive Internet Theory: Spencer Chang created a website demonstrating real human connection online through Internet Archive content from 2004 to present, countering the dead internet theory which claims 50% of new articles are AI-written. The project shows humans still seek each other, answer calls for help, and share authentic moments despite increasing AI-generated content flooding the web.
• •Forward Deployed Engineers: Job postings for FDEs increased 800% as companies like Anthropic and OpenAI embed engineers directly with customers for weeks or months. These roles require AI fluency plus communication and problem-solving skills to tailor models, implement features, and translate between AI systems and human needs rather than just writing code in isolation.
• •React as AI Substrate: AI coding tools like Cursor and v0 hard-code React into system prompts because models trained on vast React documentation give developers the best success rate. React usage spiked dramatically starting in 2023 when coding agents emerged, with 13 million-plus sites deployed in the last twelve months, making it the unassailable foundation layer for AI-generated web development.
• •Dependency Reduction Strategy: Building with AI agents enables developers to replace small utility libraries and even medium-sized dependencies like markdown parsers with custom implementations in minutes. This approach reduces attack vectors, eliminates unnecessary surface area, and creates exactly what's needed rather than pulling in generic 17,000-line libraries for simple functionality requiring only 500 lines.
• •Meshtastic Off-Grid Networks: This open-source mesh network uses inexpensive LoRa radios to create decentralized communication infrastructure with a record range of 331 kilometers. The system supports encrypted messaging with excellent battery life and optional GPS features, providing reliable communications in areas without existing infrastructure or during internet outages for businesses and individuals.