Rick Rubin: Vibe Coding is the Punk Rock of Software

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May 31, 2025

Guest

Erik Torenberg

Guest

Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin, a legendary music producer known for his minimalist style, and Erik Torenberg, a General Partner at a16z and prolific podcaster, dive into the intersection of art and technology. They explore Rubin's innovative concept of 'vibe coding,' where ancient philosophical teachings meet modern AI. The duo discusses the role of AI as a creative tool and the importance of authenticity in art. Their conversation spans punk rock, remix culture, and the transformative power of self-knowledge in creativity, offering a fresh perspective on living and creating in today's digital landscape.

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ADVICE

Use AI As Your Tool

Use AI as a creative tool to bring your ideas to life.
Remember the AI doesn't create on its own; it needs your input and vision.

ANECDOTE

Meme Sparks Creative Journey

Rick Rubin became associated with vibe coding through a viral meme involving an obscure photo.
This serendipity pulled him into creating "The Way of Code."

INSIGHT

Vibe Coding as Punk Rock

Vibe coding democratizes coding like punk rock democratized music.
It enables anyone with an idea to create without needing high technical skill.

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On this episode of "The Ben & Marc Show", a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with legendary music producer and bestselling author Rick Rubin to explore the origin of his unexpected new creation: "The Way of Code"

Blending ancient philosophy and modern AI, The Way of Code reimagines the 3,000-year-old Tao Te Ching for the age of artificial intelligence, software, and “vibe coding.” What began as a viral tweet quickly evolved into a creative manifesto—part book, part tool, part spiritual operating system for the future.

Joined by a16z General Partners Anjney Midha and Erik Torenberg, the group dives deep into:

- How Rick became a meme for Vibe Coding —and then quickly wrote "The Way of Code"

- Why AI is just another artistic tool - Remix culture, creativity, and collective consciousness

- Why great founders and artists need to stay true to themselves

With shout outs to punk rock, the collective unconscious, and Johnny Cash’s famed acoustic sessions, this conversation is a sprawling, soul-searching journey across music, philosophy, tech, and truth. We hope you enjoy this deeply personal and surprisingly practical conversation on how to live—and create—in the age of AI.

The Way of Code: https://www.thewayofcode.com/

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

Erik on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg

Erik's Substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/

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Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

This information is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any investment or financial product. Any investments or portfolio companies mentioned, referred to, or described in this podcast are not representative of all a16z investments and there can be no assurance that the investments will be profitable or that other investments made in the future will have similar characteristics or results. A list of investments made by a16z is available at https://a16z.com/investment-list/. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting effects, you should consult appropriate professionals. Information is from sources deemed reliable on the date of publication, but a16z does not guarantee its accuracy.