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

1 month 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.

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Science & Technology

Uber’s AI Budget Crisis Is a Warning Sign for Not Just Anthropic

The economics of AI are getting harder to ignore. Uber went from over-budget to capping internal AI usage in roughly six weeks, which sparks a bigger question…can AI labs bring costs down fast enough to meet what enterprises and consumers are actually willing to pay?

Published

22 hours ago

June 5, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Science & Technology

The most interesting startups right now want to get you off your phone | Equity Podcast

While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction. Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch…

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction.

Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd, this doesn’t just feel like backlash, but also people genuinely gravitating toward things that feel a little more human.

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into the week’s headlines, from the “together tech” wave to what Anthropic’s confidential IPO filing means against the backdrop of Alphabet’s $80 billion AI raise, and whether the money is all flowing back to the big guys anyway.

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

01:45 YouTubers are taking over the box office

02:46 Everyone’s fleeing climate tech — except this $250M fund

07:03 Impulse Space raises $500M and is hiring humans

13:03 Anthropic quietly files for IPO as Alphabet drops $85B on AI

21:52 The token bubble is starting to burst

26:08 From Board games to DIY cyberdecks, founders are betting on IRL

33:09 Outro

CNET

What to REALLY Pay Attention to at WWDC26

Apple’s big developers conference keynote is expected to focus on updates to Siri and Apple Intelligence. But the software can sometimes give us clues to the direction of Apple’s future hardware. CNET’s Bridget Carey goes through what key areas she’s most interested in for WWDC news. Follow CNET’s WWDC 2026 Live Blog on CNET.com Apple…

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Follow CNET’s WWDC 2026 Live Blog on CNET.com
Apple WWDC 2026: What We Expect From This Year’s Keynote and How to Watch

0:37 The future of Apple Glasses
0:50 Visual Intelligence
1:53 Siri in the Camera app
2:15 Smart home controls and HomePod
2:50 Apple TV updates
3:14 Siri and wearable tech
3:33 Get ready for WWDC
3:53 Bridget LIVE from WWDC!

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