AI-powered hardware hacks bridge digital and physical worlds

Jul 29, 2026 · Lenny's Podcast
🎧 PodShort 16 min squeezed to 2 AI SprinklerAS AI / ML New
Episode artwork
Maddie Reese
Software Engineer at Self-employed
Lenny's Podcast
16 min squeezed to 2
Full episode from Lenny's Podcast
Quotable Moments

What else was inaccessible to me that's completely accessible now? And hardware was one of those things.

Maddie ReeseSoftware Engineer at Self-employed
01:50

I just wanted some way to interact with people that was kind of more physical because everyone that I'd been talking to about these kind of things I knew online.

Maddie ReeseSoftware Engineer at Self-employed
03:30

I don't care if it's not, like, of course it's not practical to like send it to Cloudflare and then Resend and then proxy it through a Gmail and then send it to the official... like, of course that's not practical, but guess what? It's fun.

Claire VoProduct Leader and AI Obsessive
11:30
Key Insights
  • Maddie Reese started exploring hardware projects with AI after realizing that many things previously inaccessible to her became accessible through AI, inspired by her dad introducing her to lovable.
  • The 'print me a message' project involves a web page where users can send a message, which then prints out on a mini thermal receipt printer on Maddie's desk, allowing for physical interaction with online connections.
  • The printer project is built using a Raspberry Pi connected via Bluetooth to a mini thermal receipt printer, with messages stored in a Convex database even if the print fails.
  • Maddie uses Cursor as a brainstorming tool, dumping her ideas and having the AI ask questions until she has a solid plan, especially when starting a new project or purchasing hardware.
  • The 'message Maddie pager' project involves a complex setup using the Twitter API, a Cloudflare worker, Resend, and a Gmail address to send messages to an outdated pager network, highlighting the effort to bridge old and new technologies.
  • Maddie's personal API allows others to retrieve information like her coffee order, travel dates, pet info, and favorite snacks, aiming to reduce friction in social interactions and enable thoughtful gestures.
  • The speaker believes that AI agents will increasingly use personal APIs to perform tasks like making reservations or ordering coffee, automating thoughtful interactions.
  • Maddie's approach to AI and hardware projects is driven by fun and creativity, often prioritizing the joy of building over strict practicality, and using AI to enable these unique connections.
Metrics Mentioned
  • Over a million developers (use Firecrawl for web data APIs, including the host.)
  • 10,000 free credits (offered by Firecrawl for new users with code HOWIAI.)
  • 9,000+ brands (use Customer.io to turn data into customer messages.)

RevBots.ai View:

  • Shows AI Sprinkler mindset: bolting AI onto niche hardware projects without GTM integration.
  • Personal API concept could inspire ARM-stage hyper-personalization in commerce workflows.
  • Hardware hacks demonstrate how AI lowers barriers for Tab Hoppers to prototype ideas.
  • Lack of revenue use cases keeps this in experimental rather than operational territory.
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