AI Builds Custom Software and Replaces Tedious Dev Work with Edmundo Ortega of Machine & Partners

In this episode, Edmundo Ortega, partner at Machine & Partners, joins to explore how AI is transforming the way we build and ship software. He shares real-world use cases—from cutting document processing time by thousands of hours to prototyping apps with tools like Bolt in under 15 minutes.
We also dive into:
• How non-technical team members can now contribute to development
• How Ed uses Claude to write in his own voice
• Why leaders should think beyond cost savings to unlock AI’s full potential
Whether you're a developer, founder, or team leader, this episode will reshape how you think about building with AI.

Timestamps
00:00 – The promise of AI beyond cost savings
01:10 – Edmundo's background and the founding of Machine & Partners
04:40 – How Machine & Partners identifies and builds AI use cases
05:45 – Personal shift to an AI-powered workstyle
07:00 – Building internal tools using Bolt
09:20 – Demo: Creating a chart parser app using Bolt
12:00 – Claude vs. ChatGPT for writing with custom instructions1
5:15 – Use case: Automating document extraction for analysts
21:00 – Workflow transformation with AI and report generation
25:15 – PMs using AI to prototype and inspire devs
33:00 – AI's impact on team structure and dev productivity
38:24 – How to get in touch with Ed and his advice for the next 18 months
Tools & Technologies Mentioned
• Bolt (bolt.new)
• Claude 3.7 (Anthropic)
• ChatGPT / GPT-4.5
• Cursor (AI coding assistant)
• Chart.js• Google Sheets
• OpenAI API
• Replit
• N8N
• Make.com
• Gumloop
• Relay
• SectionSchool.com

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