Alan Carroll

Carpenter turned AI builder. Building agent economy infrastructure on Nostr + Lightning, other tools that make cooperation outcompete defection. @PercivalLabs

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

For years I told myself I didn't need to learn AI. I'm a carpenter — I frame walls, hang doors, pull permits. Robots aren't swinging hammers anytime soon. My job is safe.

That was the story I told myself. The truth was simpler: I was scared. AI was moving too fast, the jargon was impenetrable, and every "expert" online made it feel like you needed a master's degree in computer science just to get started. I felt like the world was leaving me behind and I had no hope of keeping up. So I looked away and hoped it would stay in its lane long enough for me to make it to retirement in a few decades. I put my head in the sand.

That didn't sit well with me though. I don't like not understanding things, and I have a kid that has to grow up in this new world. I knew deep down that I couldn't just ignore this, but I still didn't know where to begin. I tried out ChatGPT and Gemini at first. Using the chat window felt pretty much useless. These bots weren't much more than a novelty as far as I could tell.

Then someone showed me what their Claude Code setup with a personal harness could do — a structured way to talk to AI that turned it from an intimidating black box into something I could actually use with natural language. That single moment changed everything.

Because here's what nobody tells you: domain expertise is the real super power. These tools can do anything on a computer but they still need a human to know how to do and what "good" looks like. The AI doesn't know how to sequence a remodel. It doesn't know that the lumber yard quote is wrong because they spec'd #2 when you need clear. It doesn't have the taste for what feels authentic and correct.

I do.

You do.

When you pair years of knowledge and experience in specific domains of expertise with AI that can execute on your direction that's when you become truly dangerous.

I went from avoiding AI to building my own harness infrastructure, Engram. 50+ custom skills. A personal AI assistant that thinks the way I think, Percy. And now @PercivalLabs — agent economy tools on Nostr + Lightning: trust staking, inference routing, skills-as-modules. All built to transfer capability instead of creating dependency.

If you're a tradesperson, a parent, a small business owner who looked at AI and thought "that's not for me" — I was you. You're not behind. You're actually so far ahead. You just haven't found the right tools yet.

Follow along and borrow from my toolbox. I think you'll be surprised by what you're capable of.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@toddsaunders It said "unauthorized agent". I wonder if Amazon is going to try and force people to use their own version of grokbot. Bold strategy

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@Alex_Neverm1nd @bojackadultman It's really not that close. New construction on the commercial side? Maybe we'll see widespread robots in the next few years. Residential remodel for the millions of existing homes? Not worth it at scale until robots get stupid cheap. A decade minimum. Economics matter a lot.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@Alex_Neverm1nd @bojackadultman It's going to be a long time before robots are capable of taking on a complete build process. There will be many decades of robot labor alongside human operators. It's not all doom and gloom, you have a say in how this goes if you start participating now.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@Alex_Neverm1nd @bojackadultman Why is it so hard for you to understand that I want to be replaced? I don't want to do the hard manual labor parts of the job forever. You've obviously never built a house

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@Alex_Neverm1nd @bojackadultman Exactly why I'm learning how to use it now. There will be many years where robots work alongside human operators before regulators and inspectors are ready to sign off on truly autonomous work. Also, I work for myself so...

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@Alex_Neverm1nd @bojackadultman I will celebrate the day I get to direct a robot around the job site. Are you kidding me, no more smashing my fingers by accident, no more humping material around the build. An extra set of hands for hanging rafters and joists. That day can't come soon enough.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@guylander1 @DrFuturo_ If you look again at what I said. You can't let an AI take the wheel either, that's what creates slop. But using AI to create tools that augment your own ability and allow you to bridge the skill gap in realizing your vision can yield great results.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@reter442 @InHerGushy @bojackadultman Not at all. If you want to continue to animate old school you have every right to do that. It just isn't as valuable of a skill as it once was.

There's a new technology that does it cheaper and soon will do it better. You're like a seamstress during the industrial revolution.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@reter442 @Dahygu_Breez @bojackadultman Eh I bet that Elon's robot could do that today

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@CatdogStan @DrFuturo_ Post it then let's see how good it was. You think you know what you're talking about but you really don't

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@JABmanJoshua So creating content like this should be reserved for only those that can afford a studio budget?

AI tools make it possible for people with limited resources to realize a vision. That's all good as far as I'm concerned.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@reter442 @bojackadultman What are you even talking about dude? A company doesn't owe you a wage. You get paid based on the value you create. If your skills are easily replaced then you need to develop more valuable skills. It's a tough life lesson that everyone has to learn eventually.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@CatdogStan @DrFuturo_ There's really a lot more to it than that. Try it for yourself. Go to chatgpt and prompt it and see what you get. Creating something that's good to the point people aren't sure if it's AI is hard and takes real knowledge and skill far beyond prompting

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@reter442 @bojackadultman I'll speak on whatever I want to. If you lose your job to AI at this point you're an idiot. Just some friendly advice; maybe learn to use AI to be better at your job and you'll be able to keep it. Or keep sticking your head in the sand, your choice.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@bojackadultman I'm a carpenter. I understand craft just fine and I create with my hands every single day.

The amount of time it takes to create a thing has no bearing on its artistic value but if you were actually as creative as you seem to think you are you would know that

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@FrMatthewLC No you don't. If it's not clear on its face that AI created it then it's just good content. Use your discernment and engage with what moves you.

AI is just the latest tool and it can be used skillfully with artistry or crudely just like any other tool.

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@MomAngtrades Sure looks to me like the politicians work for the billionaires soooo....

[Alan Carroll @alanbuilds]

@Demonwori3 That's not how IR works anymore. Charb could play next week if he's up to speed and apparently he was actually running in practice yesterday so he may be closer than we think