Pieter Levels: The AI Tools Behind Nomad List
One person with AI equals a 5-person team. Pieter Levels runs Nomad List, Remote OK, Photo AI, and other products generating $2M+/year—completely solo. His AI stack is surprisingly simple: GPT-4, Cursor, custom Stable Diffusion models, and lots of automation. This case study breaks down exactly what tools he uses and how.
Pieter Levels uses a minimalist AI stack: GPT-4 for content and support automation, Cursor for AI-assisted coding, custom Stable Diffusion models for Photo AI, and simple scripted automations connecting everything. One person with AI can match a 5-person team's productivity—Pieter proves this daily by running multiple million-dollar products solo. His approach prioritizes simplicity and speed over technical sophistication.
What makes Pieter's approach remarkable isn't the complexity of his tools—it's the opposite. While others chase the latest frameworks and enterprise solutions, he builds with vanilla PHP, SQLite, and jQuery. AI enhances this simple foundation rather than replacing it.
Pieter Levels by the Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total annual revenue | $2M+/year |
| Number of employees | 0 (solo) |
| Active products | 5+ |
| Productivity multiplier with AI | 5x |
| Hours worked per week | ~35 |
The Products: Pieter's Portfolio
Pieter runs multiple profitable products simultaneously, each leveraging AI differently:
Nomad List
The original digital nomad community and city database. AI helps with content moderation, data enrichment, and automated support responses.
Remote OK
Remote job board monetized through listing fees and featured placements. AI assists with job categorization, spam detection, and automated posting workflows.
Photo AI
AI-generated professional headshots and photos. Built on custom Stable Diffusion models with automated processing pipeline.
Interior AI
AI interior design visualization tool. Uses image-to-image AI to show how rooms could look with different styles.
The AI Stack: What Pieter Actually Uses
Pieter's AI stack emphasizes simplicity and pragmatism over cutting-edge complexity:
For AI-Assisted Coding
| Tool | Purpose | Why He Uses It |
|---|---|---|
| Cursor | AI coding assistant | Writes boilerplate, debugs, explains code |
| GPT-4 | Complex problem solving | Architecture decisions, code review |
| Claude | Long-form code analysis | Understanding large codebases |
For more on AI coding tools, see our AI Coding Assistants Guide.
For Content & Communication
| Tool | Purpose | Why He Uses It |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-4 | Content generation | Blog posts, documentation, emails |
| Custom scripts | Automated responses | Handle repetitive support queries |
| Twitter/X | Distribution | Building in public, customer feedback |
For Product-Specific AI
| Product | AI Technology | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Photo AI | Stable Diffusion (custom) | Fine-tuned models for headshots |
| Interior AI | Stable Diffusion | Image-to-image transformation |
| Nomad List | GPT-4 + custom | Content moderation, data enrichment |
The Philosophy: Why Simple Works
Pieter's success comes from principles that contradict conventional wisdom:
1. Boring Technology Wins
While others use React, TypeScript, and complex architectures, Pieter uses vanilla PHP, SQLite, and jQuery. AI tools help him move fast with this simple stack rather than requiring him to upgrade it.
"The best technology is the one that gets out of your way."
2. Ship Fast, Iterate Publicly
Pieter launches minimal versions quickly and improves based on real user feedback. AI accelerates this cycle by handling more of the implementation work.
3. Automate Everything Repetitive
If he does something more than twice, he automates it. AI makes previously impossible automations simple—like nuanced customer support or content moderation.
4. Revenue Over Vanity Metrics
Every decision optimizes for revenue, not users or features. AI tools are judged by their impact on the bottom line.
How AI Multiplies Pieter's Output
Here's how AI specifically enables one person to run multiple million-dollar products:
Coding: 3-5x Faster Development
- Cursor writes boilerplate code instantly
- GPT-4 debugs tricky issues
- AI explains unfamiliar code/libraries
- Automated code review catches errors
Support: 80% Automated
- AI categorizes incoming messages
- Automated responses handle FAQs
- Only complex issues reach Pieter directly
- AI drafts responses for human review
Content: 10x More Output
- AI generates first drafts
- Pieter adds personal insights and voice
- Social content repurposed automatically
- Documentation stays current with AI help
Operations: Near-Zero Touch
- Automated monitoring and alerts
- AI-powered fraud detection
- Automatic scaling and backups
- Financial reporting generated automatically
Lessons for Solopreneurs
What can you learn from Pieter's approach?
Start Simple
You don't need complex infrastructure to build profitable products. Start with the simplest tech that works and add complexity only when necessary. AI helps you stay productive with minimal tooling.
Build for Revenue
Every product should have a clear path to revenue from day one. Pieter never builds "for users" or "for growth"—only for paying customers.
Leverage AI for Multiplication
Use AI to do more of what already works, not to do completely new things. If content marketing works, use AI to produce 10x more content. If support is a bottleneck, use AI to handle 80% of it.
Build in Public
Sharing your journey attracts customers, collaborators, and opportunities. Pieter's Twitter presence drives significant traffic to all his products.
The Complete Pieter Levels Tech Stack
| Category | Tool | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Backend | PHP (vanilla) | Free |
| Database | SQLite | Free |
| Frontend | HTML + jQuery | Free |
| Hosting | Simple VPS | ~$100/mo |
| AI Coding | Cursor Pro | $20/mo |
| AI Content | GPT-4 API | ~$50/mo |
| AI Images | Stable Diffusion (self-hosted) | GPU costs |
| Payments | Stripe | 2.9% + fees |
| Analytics | Simple Analytics | ~$20/mo |
Total monthly tools cost: ~$200 (excluding GPU for AI image generation)
FAQ: Pieter Levels AI Stack
What AI tools does Pieter Levels use?
Pieter uses a lean AI stack: GPT-4 for content and support automation, Cursor for AI-assisted coding, custom Stable Diffusion models for Photo AI, and simple automation scripts. He emphasizes simplicity over complexity, using vanilla PHP and SQLite rather than complex frameworks. AI enhances his simple foundation rather than requiring sophisticated infrastructure.
What is Nomad List's AI stack?
Nomad List runs on intentionally simple technology: vanilla PHP, SQLite database, jQuery for frontend, and minimal AI integrations. AI is used for content moderation, automated support responses, and data enrichment. The stack proves that complexity isn't required for scale—Nomad List generates significant revenue with this setup.
How does Pieter Levels build products so fast?
Pieter's speed comes from simplicity plus AI leverage. He uses boring, reliable technology (PHP, SQLite) that he knows deeply, combined with AI coding assistants (Cursor) that accelerate implementation. He ships minimal versions quickly and iterates publicly based on user feedback.
Apply This to Your Business
Pieter's approach proves that one person with the right AI tools can build and run multiple million-dollar businesses. The key isn't access to expensive tools or complex infrastructure—it's focused execution with simple, reliable technology.
Your action plan:
- Simplify your stack: Remove unnecessary complexity
- Add AI where it multiplies: Coding, content, support
- Ship something this week: Speed beats perfection
- Build in public: Share your journey on social media
For more AI-powered business inspiration, see our 10 AI-Powered Businesses Making $100K+. To build your own stack, check out Complete AI Stack for One-Person Business. For AI coding tools, see our AI Coding Assistants Guide.
Last updated: January 2026