How to Design Your Stack: An Interview With Sherry Jiang, Peek Founder

In an interview with Wayne Sutton, Sherry Jiang, founder of the consumer AI fintech company Peek, discusses the transition from a traditional backend using Postgres on AWS to Convex, a modern solution that integrates real-time responsiveness into their platform. This shift was driven by the need for a more seamless and instantaneous user experience, akin to a game engine, which is crucial for the success of consumer AI apps where user engagement and immediate feedback are paramount. Sherry highlights the importance of reducing latency and simplifying backend architecture, which allows for a more intuitive and dynamic interaction between the user and the AI agent. This approach aligns with the changing landscape of software engineering, where the lines between backend and frontend development have blurred, and tools like Convex enable a single developer or AI agent to manage the entire stack more efficiently. The conversation also touches on Sherry's experiences in fintech, her educational initiatives in AI, and the broader implications of using modern, reactive systems to enhance user experience in AI-driven applications.