I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep

I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep

Author: Chris Hutchins February 11, 2026 Duration: 51:24
#265: Chris explores how modern AI tools have eliminated the barriers to building software, why planning matters more than coding skill, how anyone can turn a simple problem into a working app faster and cheaper than ever before, and how he built a personal AI assistant that's already started to run his life behind the scenes. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/how-to-build-with-ai-tools Partner Deals Green Chef: 50% off on your first box + 20% off for two months with code 50ALLTHEHACKS Mercury: Help your business grow with simplified finances NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned AI Models & Assistants ChatGPT OpenClaw Gemini Claude AI Coding & Building Tools Replit Lovable Cursor Codex Productivity & Automation Tools Wispr Flow Zapier Nimble Links Tampermonkey Developer Infrastructure Clerk Supabase GitHub FinTech: Plaid How to Run OpenClaw as your Virtual EA Blogs Doctor of Credit Frequent Miler The Points Guy Deep Personality Credit Cards American Express® Gold Card Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Bilt 2.0 ATH Podcast Ep #263: How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A Chris’ Card Optimizer Tool Ask Chris Anything! Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:41) Why This Is the Best Time Ever to Build Software (04:14) How to Build Almost Anything with AI (13:53) Why Context Is the Real Superpower (15:58) Using Planning Mode Instead of Guessing (16:41) Which AI Tool Should You Start With? (17:53) Building a Real Credit Card Optimizer from Scratch (28:48) What It Actually Costs to Build with AI (32:38) The Real AI Learning Curve (33:38) Moving from Cursor to Claude Code (36:17) Why You Should Try Building Something (Even If You're Not a Coder) (37:00) How OpenClaw Changes the Game (38:57) Why Security Still Matters (42:25) A Conversation with Ted, Chris' AI Assistant (44:07) Letting AI Work While You Sleep (49:41) Learning to Be Clear, Specific, and Intentional (50:03) Start with a Real Problem (50:39) Breaking Projects into Small, Winnable Pieces (50:58) What Would You Build If Building Were Easy? (51:59) Keeping Track of Cost and Budget Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 274

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
Stop Overthinking and Start Deciding with Derek Sivers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:11
#273: Learn to stop overthinking and make better decisions. Chris and Derek discuss how optimizing can go wrong, a coin flip trick for making decisions, journaling as a superpower, how your actions might reveal what you…
My Process for Booking Travel with Points & Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:29
#272: Learn how to turn your points into significantly better travel experiences by following a simple, repeatable system. We cover how to plan, find award availability, choose the right tools, and decide between portals…
How to Actually Live the Life You're Optimizing For with Sahil Bloom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:41
#271: Learn why over-optimizing your life can quietly destroy the things you actually care about. Chris and Sahil explore the doorman fallacy, why big life decisions should happen fast, how to use AI as a thinking partne…
Ski Trip Mishaps, AI Interior Design, Reflecting on Life and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
#270: Chris and Amy discuss lessons from three ski trips with kids, using AI to redesign rooms on a budget, their favorite new gadgets, navigating high-deductible health plans, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://…
Credit Cards: What's in My Wallet for 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
#267: Chris reviews his credit card lineup for 2026, sharing which cards he's keeping and canceling and why. He also covers how to evaluate annual fees, the best cards across major spending categories, and the apps he us…
Why Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:22
#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical to…
Deep Dive on Bilt Rewards and New Bilt 2.0 Cards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:43
#264: Learn how the Bilt ecosystem works, from earning Bilt Rewards to the new cards, transfer partners, perks, and where the real value is. Whether you’re new or already earning, this is a practical guide to using Bilt…
How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:43
#263: Chris breaks down exactly how he’s earned millions of points and miles, and why simplicity matters more than optimization. He covers signup bonuses, spending strategies, credit score impacts, business cards, cash-b…