Experimenting Again: Playing at the Edges of AI with StackTiger
In my last post, I wrote about the slow, sometimes uncomfortable process of finding my footing again after burnout. Letting go of the momentum I’d been clinging to for years created a strange sort of quiet - one that felt unfamiliar at first, but eventually revealed something I hadn’t expected to find again so soon: the urge to explore.
Not to push. Not to perform. Just… explore.
That shift laid the groundwork for this next chapter.
Rediscovering the joy of building
As my mind cleared and some sense of spaciousness returned, so did curiosity - the real kind, the kind that doesn’t come with a deadline attached. And like many people right now, that curiosity gravitated toward AI.
What started as small experiments turned into deeper R&D work within StackTiger, the company I run with my friend and business partner, Helena Ford. It’s where both of us have found room to tinker without expectation, to imagine without pressure, and to build because it’s interesting - not because it needs to scale tomorrow.
Together, we’ve been exploring:
- AI applications powered by LLMs like GPT
- Domain-specific agents that actually understand the verticals they operate within
- Experiments in training or fine-tuning our own vertical language models
- Questions around safety, control, and deployment that matter more than ever
- Nothing ready for public viewing. Nothing polished. And that’s intentional. There’s something refreshing about working on ideas without immediately preparing them for scrutiny.
It feels less like “shipping” and more like play with purpose.
Collaboration without the chaos
One of the most grounding parts of this season has been working with Helena. We have a rhythm that’s equal parts structured and chaotic in a good way. We push each other’s thinking, challenge assumptions, and allow space for ideas to unfold before deciding whether they’re worth pursuing.
Some things stick. Most things don’t. But the process feels alive.
And after a long stretch where everything felt heavy, being in a collaborative flow that’s energising instead of draining has been a quiet revelation.
Ambition, but different this time
I can feel ambition returning - but it’s not the frantic, “keep running or you’ll fall behind” flavour. This version is slower, calmer, more intentional. It’s curious about the long game, not the next sprint.
AI is evolving at a dizzying pace, but StackTiger isn’t trying to race it. We’re trying to understand it deeply - to experiment thoughtfully, and eventually build things that genuinely help people navigate their work and lives with more clarity and less friction.
What comes of these experiments is still unknown. And honestly, I like it that way.
Looking Ahead
This post is part of a small series on rebuilding momentum, rediscovering creativity, and reimagining work after burnout. If the first chapter was about slowing down, this one is about cautiously - and joyfully - starting to explore again.
Where these experiments lead, I’m not sure yet. But for the first time in a long time, that uncertainty feels expansive instead of overwhelming.
What's Next?
If you’re interested in following the AI experiments Helena and I are exploring at StackTiger, you can find us at stacktiger.co
(No launches, no hype - just honest R&D and thoughtful exploration.)