I built my own app without knowing a single line of code. It was surprising how fast I got everything to work using AI and other tools.

• James Brooks is a social media marketer who turned to AI and no-code apps to create extra revenue. 
• He created an app without writing a single line of code.
• He uses the AI tool Magai to help whenever he gets stuck using no-code tools.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with James Brooks, 35, creator of Thingy Bridge. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My whole career has been in social media. I mostly work with food brands like KFC, Subway, and Taco Bell to create social content and market them. But lately, I've been losing clients.

In the last year, the economic landscape has changed significantly. Brands have really been struggling because of the increased price of things like ingredients and fuel, and the marketing budget is often the first thing to get cut.