WebGL led to Figma's founding
Dylan Field said his early exploration of WebGL was a key technology that eventually led to the founding of Figma.
Snapshot · Hard Fork
‘Hard Fork’ Live, Part 2: Dylan Field on Standing Out in the A.I. Era
Explore episode
Jun 17, 2026
Where this was said
AI Experiments: Vibemath-ing and the Philosophy of Exploring New Tech
At 7:58 · chapter starts 6:08
Asked whether he has 'AI psychosis,' Field laughs and says it's better to front-run it than let it sneak up on you. His current obsession is what he calls 'vibemath-ing' — using AI to explore mathematical problems, not to prove theorems, but to study how AI attacks verifiable problems. [1] — Dylan Field "Dylan Field is using AI to tackle math problems — what he calls 'vibemath-ing' — because math is one of the few domains where AI correctnes…" 06:22 He contrasts this with design evaluation, where two people can look at the same thing and reach opposite conclusions; in math, the answer is right or it isn't. This love of exploration has a longer backstory: Field says he was into crypto collectibles (now NFTs) early on, and before that, WebGL, the browser graphics technology that eventually became the technical foundation for Figma. The pattern, he argues, is consistent — go deep on something before you know where it leads, and it pays off in ways you can't anticipate.
Vibe-mathing with AI
Dylan Field described 'vibemath-ing' — using AI to explore mathematical problems — as a way to test verifiable AI capabilities in contrast to the subjective nature of design evaluation.
Why Vibemath-ing Is Dylan Field's Current Obsession
Dylan Field is using AI to tackle math problems — what he calls 'vibemath-ing' — because math is one of the few domains where AI correctness is black and white. It's the polar opposite of design evaluation, and he thinks exploring the edges of what models can do pays off in unexpected ways.
Why CEOs Love Vibe Coding (And What It Reveals)
Kevin Roose's theory: CEOs are obsessed with vibe coding because it reminds them of when their jobs were fun. Dylan Field's take: people love making things, and AI is democratizing that for everyone — not just executives building weekend projects.
Design Is Not Dead — It's the Opposite
Dylan Field pushes back on the 'design is dead' narrative. When AI generates the average, having genuine creative voice and pushing beyond the first output is exactly how you stand out. The App Store has more apps than ever — but the same number are actually being used.
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