Working Notes on Agent Systems/Brad Zhang

@teach_fireworks / X longform

The 17-year-old used artificial intelligence, cheap materials and 23,000 lines of code to create a device

The 17-year-old used artificial intelligence, cheap materials and 23,000 lines of code to create a device that can read brain signals without surgery, without implants...

December 2, 2025 · 2 min read

The 17-year-old used artificial intelligence, cheap materials and 23,000 lines of code to create a device that can read brain signals without surgery, without implants and without spending $450,000. The cost is only $300! Here are a few of my tips:

  • AI-enabled manufacturing has great potential, but it lacks the enthusiasm for learning, curiosity and practical ability like this boy.
  • The corporate organizational structure of modern companies is more than a hundred times behind AI, the latest advanced productivity. It is essentially based on the industrial system of the previous era.
  • The modern education system has basically failed in the face of AI. Whether it is a school in a remote area or an Ivy League school, if it cannot be well integrated with AI, it will quickly lose its role. On the contrary, even in your own home, you can do things that used to require interdisciplinary and difficult work. 4 The information gap and cognitive gap in the entire world are getting bigger and bigger. 5 People who better combine their talents with AI are the most needed people in the AI ​​era. He does not need titles, academic qualifications and so-called awards. He just needs to show his works/products/designs to everyone. Self-media platforms will spread at a thousand times, almost overnight, just like this boy.

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The 17-year-old used artificial intelligence, cheap materials and 23,000 lines of cod...THESISThe 17-year-old usedartificialintelligence, cheapmaterials and 23,000SIGNALThe 17-year-old usedartificialintelligence, cheapmaterials and 23,000OPERATOR2. The corporateorganizationalstructure of moderncompanies is more thanIMPLICATION3. The moderneducation system hasbasically failed inthe face of AI.
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