Building a Conference with AI: Imagine AI Live's Story with Founder Steve Metcalf | E144

Imagine AI Live 2025 wasn’t just a conference — it was a full-stack experiment in how AI can transform events, communities, and creation itself. In this episode, Imagine AI co-founder Steve Metcalf joins Chris Madden to reflect on the evolution of the conference and its uniquely human energy. From vibe-coded websites to networking apps built in hours using agents, Steve gives a behind-the-scenes look at what made the experience so magical. They also unpack key themes from the event, like the rise of AI agents, the power of community-led learning, and how Imagine AI is helping thousands of builders integrate AI into daily life. If you’re curious about the future of conferences, creativity, and collaboration — this episode is for you. (0:00) Welcome to Imagine AI Live (0:29) The new workshops format (1:58) Curating the speakers — not selling slots (3:37) What Steve learned about agents and evals (5:45) The rise of vibe culture and vibe conferencing (7:41) Building the entire site and platform with AI (10:49) What’s next for Imagine AI (13:24) Why Imagine AI is more than just a conference