Substack CEO Chris Best Funds Single Part-Time AI Researcher, Highlighting Targeted AI Strategy

Substack CEO Chris Best recently announced a focused investment in artificial intelligence, stating on social media, > "We now have enough money to hire one part-time AI researcher." This concise tweet from the head of the prominent creator platform signals a deliberate, albeit modest, step into expanding Substack's technological capabilities, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of AI. The move comes as the company continues to refine its approach to integrating advanced technologies for its vast network of independent writers and creators.

Substack has consistently articulated a human-centric philosophy regarding AI integration, emphasizing its role in enhancing, rather than replacing, human creativity. Chris Best has previously stated the company's intent to use AI to provide "creative leverage" and strengthen "human connections." He affirmed that Substack would "enthusiastically use algorithms, or AI, or any other technology we can get our hands on, as long as we can use them to serve the human ends that we care about." This vision positions AI as a tool to empower individual creators.

This targeted AI hire follows Substack's significant Series C funding round, which secured $100 million and valued the company at $1.1 billion. The substantial capital infusion provides the platform with ample resources for strategic initiatives. The decision to allocate funds for a single part-time AI researcher, rather than a large team, suggests a highly specific, perhaps experimental or exploratory, approach to AI development, focusing on niche applications that directly benefit creators and their audience relationships.

In the broader media landscape, artificial intelligence is increasingly being explored for various applications, including content generation, editing, and distribution. Substack's measured and focused approach contrasts with some industry trends that prioritize rapid, large-scale AI deployment. The new researcher is expected to contribute to developing tools that simplify technical aspects for creators, such as "editing and clipping and translating and putting it together and making it sound good and making it look good," as Best described. Ultimately, this strategic hire aims to allow creators to concentrate more on their core creative work, further strengthening their direct relationships with audiences and reinforcing Substack's commitment to independent publishing.