Science & Technology

Why Artisan still ‘loves hiring humans’ despite ‘Stop Hiring Humans’ billboards l Build Mode

Surviving the early days as an AI startup isn’t just about making the technology work, it’s about hiring the right people, avoiding costly mistakes, and standing out in a crowded market. This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of Artisan, a fast-growing AI startup building AI employees…

Published

3 months ago

April 23, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Surviving the early days as an AI startup isn’t just about making the technology work, it’s about hiring the right people, avoiding costly mistakes, and standing out in a crowded market.

This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of Artisan, a fast-growing AI startup building AI employees for sales. Best known for its viral “Stop Hiring Humans” campaign, Artisan is rethinking outbound sales with AI, while still betting on hiring exceptional human talent.

In this episode, they break down what it really takes to build and scale a venture-backed AI company, from Y Combinator to rapid growth.

This conversation covers:
→ Startup hiring mistakes every founder should avoid
→ Lessons on firing, team building, and company culture in early-stage startups
→ The strategy behind bold, controversial marketing that drives growth
→ How AI is transforming sales, hiring, and the future of work
→ What founders get wrong about the necessary roles needed for a scaling startup

This conversation gets to the heart of building a startup: making the right hires early or paying for it later.

Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.
TechCrunch Disrupt: If you’re thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we’re back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.
Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.

Chapters:
00:00 — “Stop Hiring Humans?” The Reality Behind the Campaign
01:33 — What Artisan Actually Does (AI Employees Explained)
02:38 — Early Growth: From Idea to Massive Market Pull
04:27 — Bold Marketing: Why Controversy Drove Growth
06:49 — 100 Hires, 40 Left: Brutal Hiring Lessons
07:26 — Startup Hiring Mistakes to Avoid (Logo Shopping, Overhiring)
10:25 — When to Fire: The Hardest Founder Decision
22:59 — Why Overhiring Slows Growth (And What to Do Instead)

New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

Up Next

5 Biggest Challenges for Apple’s Next CEO, John Ternus | One More Thing

Don't Miss

Everything Announced at Google Cloud Next in Under 13 Minutes

Click to comment

CNET

Unboxing the $120 Clicks Power Keyboard

Let your thumbs fly! 👍🏽 The Clicks Power Keyboard works on iPhone and Android phones with Qi wireless charging, like the iPhone Air or iPhone Pro Max as well as the Pixel 10 Pro. Not only is it a nifty Bluetooth keyboard, it can also charge your phone with its 2300mAh battery. Let’s unbox it…

Published

8 hours ago

August 5, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Let your thumbs fly! 👍🏽

The Clicks Power Keyboard works on iPhone and Android phones with Qi wireless charging, like the iPhone Air or iPhone Pro Max as well as the Pixel 10 Pro. Not only is it a nifty Bluetooth keyboard, it can also charge your phone with its 2300mAh battery. Let’s unbox it with CNET Director of Content Patrick Holland.

📽️: Faith Chihil #allthingsmobile #unboxing #clickskeyboard #clicks #keyboard #clickspowerkeyboard

Science & Technology

Lightspeed is building its edge on followers, not just funds | Equity Podcast

Published

12 hours ago

August 5, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Venture firms are turning to creators to build trust with the next generation of founders before a check is ever written. It’s a trend that’s been building with a16z’s acquisition of Erik Torenberg’s Turpentine podcast and OpenAI’s acquisition of TBPN. Lightspeed Venture Partners just made its own notable hire in that vein, bringing on Claire Zau, a seed investor with a major following on Instagram and TikTok, to source deals and co-host the firm’s new show, Lightwork, alongside CMO Josh Machiz.

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Dominic-Madori Davis is joined by Zau and Machiz to dive deep into whether the “creator-investor” is becoming a real function in venture or just something firms are still trying to figure out.

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

1:03 Getting hired…via Instagram DM

3:36 Creating for the tech-curious, not just tech Twitter

8:12 What Instagram taught Claire about Gen Z and AI

10:44 Does audience feedback shape investment decisions?

11:19 Do founders now expect investors to be creators?

13:13 Inside the editing grind: hours per video

15:42 Who’s actually doing creator VC well right now

18:52 The risk of being taken less seriously

21:41 Measuring ROI: brand awareness and founder conversion

27:41 What’s next for Lightspeed’s media empire

29:22 Outro

CNET

Google Demos Google Glass in 2012 by Jumping Out of a Plane | CNET Archives

At Google I/O in June, 2012, co-founder Sergey Brin showcased Project Glass by streaming live Hangout footage of skydivers jumping from a plane while wearing the smart spectacles. Read more about it on CNET.com Everything We Know About Google’s Upcoming Smart Glasses Ahead of I/O 0:00 Sergey Brin interrupts the presentation for a special demo…

Published

21 hours ago

August 5, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

At Google I/O in June, 2012, co-founder Sergey Brin showcased Project Glass by streaming live Hangout footage of skydivers jumping from a plane while wearing the smart spectacles.

Read more about it on CNET.com
Everything We Know About Google’s Upcoming Smart Glasses Ahead of I/O

0:00 Sergey Brin interrupts the presentation for a special demo
0:46 Sergey connects with skydivers via a Google Glass Hangout
1:58 The view from a mile above the Moscone Center
2:49 The airplane doors open
3:15 Skydivers exit the plane and fly over San Francisco
4:02 Parachutes deploy
5:07 Skydivers land on the roof of the Moscone Center
6:01 Bikers receive the Google Glass unit on the roof
6:21 Rappelling down the side of the building
7:05 The final bike ride through the conference hall
7:37 The Google Glass unit successfully arrives on stage

Video Credits
Video Editor – Vatsal Upadhyay
Thumbnail Designer – Tharon Green

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

#google #smartglasses #skydiving #googleglass #googleio #sergeybrin