Owen Barnes
Building technology for the world as it's becoming.
I create new products on the frontier of AI.
Latest updates.
June 2026
Won 2nd Prize on the Generative UI track at the Google CopilotKit Hackathon in London.
May 2026
Started building the future of websites and generative UI. Contact me for an early demo. Launching soon.
April 2026
Our team won first prize and the Google DeepMind prize at Tech Europe AI Hackathon with HiveCoding.
March 2026
Built ClawClub.social. Fully open source. Join the OG group today or start your own!
February 2026
Launched my free audiobook about AI: You're Going To Be Fine.
Three things I believe.
The beliefs behind the work: intelligence is abundant, heart is the moat, and the next generation is already changing what technology is for.
1. “Smart” is abundant.
Frontier AI models are now more intelligent than any human. Not just PhD level in one subject, but in all subjects combined.
2. “Heart” is the new moat.
Empathy and taste are now the most valuable skills in technology.
3. A new generation is rewriting the rules.
Young people have no appetite for endless wars, divisive media, broken institutions, or technology that makes us feel disconnected.
Technology is neither good nor bad. It mirrors the consciousness of whoever builds it.
Who I am.
I think we're all born with gifts. Mine is seeing where technology is going, and knowing what to build before it gets there.
I've been falling in love with technology since I was a kid in the 90s, inserting AOL CDs, connecting to IRC on a modem that blocked the phone line to the house. The internet felt like magic.
I've been chasing that feeling ever since.
I've always spotted trends early: Ruby on Rails, Node.js, Bitcoin before it became mainstream inside consulting rooms that were not yet ready for it.
Today I live at the frontier of AI. I built one of the first AI agents, used Claude Code the week it launched, and jumped on OpenClaw early.
It's easier than ever to create, harder than ever to stand out. Vibecoded apps, AI videos. I've realised: if it doesn't move you emotionally, nobody cares.
Life is short. I only work with people I'd be proud to call friends, on work that makes me feel alive.
| Contributed | Status.im whitepaper · Polkadot litepaper |
|---|---|
| Speaking | London Business School · Imperial College · Urbit |
| Events | Devcon x5 · EthCC x3 · EthBerlin x2 · 10+ Hackathons |
Talks.
- The Future of Personal AI — closing talk at Urbit Assembly 2023, Lisbon.
- The Future of Apps — Urbit Volcano Summit, March 2023, El Salvador.
- Twelve Thoughts on the Future of Web3 — EthBrno, November 2022.
- Censorship in an Immutable World — recorded just before the pandemic.
- Bitcoin and Ethereum — technical talks for London Business School and Imperial College.
- Problems with Modern Software Development — 2018, before Lens.protocol and GPT-3.
Working with me.
Advisory
Bring me the hardest problem your team has been stuck on for months. Two 90-minute sessions a month, direct access in between, and a fresh perspective from the edge of what is now possible.
Speaking
Technical talks that move people emotionally. I connect AI, crypto, software and culture in a way that lands with technical and non-technical audiences.
Prototyping
Once you know where you're going, I build proof-of-concepts that make the vision tangible. Fast enough to see the future before the meeting ends.
Workshops
I can bring your team up to speed on frontier AI. Not just the tools, but the mindset shift required to use them well. I focus on what AI can do for your business, not generic training.
What I'm building.
Poly
A completely new way to work, designed for the post-AI, post-separation era. Money is guaranteed before anyone lifts a finger, and your work history is portable, verified, on-chain, and yours forever.
ClawClub
Private, curated communities with zero engagement metrics. No ads, likes, or feed to scroll. Your AI agent only tells you about events, job opportunities, and posts it thinks you'll find interesting.
You're Going To Be Fine
A free audiobook for anyone who gets a knot in their stomach thinking about AI. Part reassurance, part wake-up call.
Writing.
What Comes After Vibe Coding
On dynamic rendering, natural language specifications, and the end of the app paradigm.
March 2025
Vibe coders need a dedicated hosting platform. One that pays them!
The traditional hosting model is backwards for vibe coders. They need vibe hosting.
February 2025
Let's talk.
If you're building something interesting and want a thinking partner who lives at the leading edge, get in touch.