$1.5 Billion “AI” Startup? Just 700 Coders Behind the Curtain

Touted as a breakthrough in no-code software development, Builder.ai promised to revolutionize app building using artificial intelligence. Investors poured in. The company hit a $1.5 billion valuation. The future looked automated.

But behind the glossy AI branding was something far less futuristic.

The Truth Behind the Hype

In 2024, reports emerged revealing that Builder.ai’s so-called “AI” wasn’t building apps autonomously. Instead, it was relying on a hidden army of 700+ engineers mostly from India writing code manually behind the scenes.

The AI? Often just a layer of marketing and a bit of smoke and mirrors.

The Collapse of a Unicorn

Once celebrated as a rising star in the AI space, Builder.ai quickly faced criticism, credibility loss, and internal turmoil.