Notes from the journey.

Should AI completely replace me on camera?

I tried HeyGen. My avatar looks just like me—even the awkward delivery. 😂

But that's not my worry. If AI does all my talking, will I ever improve? What happens when people meet the real me?

I'll keep practicing on camera in Chinese and English, and use AI to make versions in both languages.

Would you let AI do it all, or keep part of it human?

💡 Now that we have AI, do you really need to pay someone to build your personal brand website from the start?

Over the last few days, I've finished putting together my SuiK. brand website and actually deployed it online.

I didn't use some magical "one-click website builder." Instead, I connected three tools:

ChatGPT: Describe requirements and get help writing and modifying code. GitHub: Store the website's source code and keep its version history. Cloudflare: Publish the website and automatically deploy changes from GitHub.

Honestly, for an engineer, this combination has become almost unbelievably fast.

When I want to change some text, adjust the layout, or add a page, I usually just need to tell AI what I have in mind and then check the results.

But halfway through, I found myself thinking about a different question.

If you're a hairstylist, photographer, or small studio that just needs to showcase your work, describe your services, and provide contact information, do you really need to start with a fully custom-built website every time?

There are three things I actually want to share:

1️⃣ Lower the upfront cost

For a simple brand showcase website, AI can help create the first version without having to pay the full design and development fee upfront.

2️⃣ Keep control over future changes

If you want to change the style, update your services, or add more work to your portfolio, you can first explain what you want directly to AI instead of hiring someone for every update.

3️⃣ Keep the source code and content in your own hands

Social platforms can bring traffic, but we don't control those accounts or the platform rules. If you keep separate copies of your website, articles, and original photos, at least you'll have a chance to keep using them when you move to another platform later.

⚠️ There are trade-offs, though.

Creating accounts for the first time, authorizing GitHub, and setting up Cloudflare can feel unfamiliar to people without a technical background. AI usage limits, a custom domain, and advanced features may also come with costs.

And there are already more integrated AI website builders like Lovable and Bolt. If your only goal is to get online as quickly as possible, those might be a better fit.

So I'm not trying to prove that "connecting the tools yourself is the one correct answer."

What I'm more interested in is this: for ordinary users, is spending a little more time on the initial setup worth it in exchange for lower fixed costs, more freedom to make changes, and greater control over the source code?

Next, I'm planning to invite a hairstylist to test it in practice, to see whether she can build her own portfolio website by following a short guide.

If she gets stuck, that's something I need to fix—not some technical skill she should be forced to learn. 😗

💬 If you're not an engineer and want to run your own brand website, which step would put you off the most?

#AIAssistedDevelopment #PersonalBranding #WebDevelopment #DigitalOwnership