Rick Rubin: Vibe Coding is the Punk Rock of Software

a16z Podcast

a16z

Science, Innovation, Business, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Disruption, Software Eating The World, Technology

4.4 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2025

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode 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/ “Tools will come and tools will go. Only the vibe coder remains.” - Rick Rubin

Transcript

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0:00.0	So many people I know who use AI ask it questions and think that the results that they get back is the answer.
0:06.0	And it seems like people are more interested in getting an answer that can allow them to stop thinking about the question than really finding out what the real answer is.
0:15.0	I'm so interested in what AI really can know based on what is and not what we tell it we think it is.
0:26.2	What happens when one of the most iconic music producers of our time rewires ancient wisdom for the AI era?
0:32.6	Today's guest on the Ben and Mark show is Rick Rubin, legendary producer, The Creative Oracle,
0:37.9	and now the author of the timeless art of vibe coding.
0:40.9	On the surface, it's a book,
0:42.5	but as you'll hear, it's also software.
0:44.6	It's a remix of the Dow Day Jing
0:46.0	through the lens of code prompts
0:47.6	in the emerging language of AI-native creativity.
0:50.8	We talk about the origins of vibe coding,
0:52.9	what AI can and can't know, and why the most important prompts might be the ones we give ourselves.
0:58.0	And if you want more from Rick's world, check out his podcast, Tetrgrammatin, where he explores creativity, consciousness, and culture with some of the most original minds on the planet.
1:07.0	This episode is about more than AI. It's about staying human, thinking deeply, and building something real in a world of infinite automation.
1:14.6	The first voice to hear is A16Z general partner, Anjane Meidha, as the explores the central question, what is the way of code?
1:22.6	Let's get into it.
1:32.6	The content here is for informational purposes only should not be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security and is not directed
1:38.1	at any investor or potential investors in any A16Z fund.
1:42.5	Please note that A16Z and its affiliates
1:44.7	may maintain investments in the companies discussed in this podcast.
1:48.3	For more details, including a link to our investments,
	...

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