Inspiration
Founders, creators, and independent experts have stories worth sharing. But turning one idea into a podcast and a week of social content can mean finding a host, recording an episode, hiring a video editor, and writing a different caption for every platform. We built PodPilot AI around a simpler starting point: answer a good question on camera.
What it does
PodPilot AI is a browser-based podcast and content studio. Pick a topic and podcast format, then answer the host’s questions in a virtual podcast studio. After recording, use the editor to select a moment, crop it into a vertical reel, and adjust the on-screen captions. You can also export podcast audio and review editable social drafts for Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
For example, a founder can explain why they built their product, cut the strongest answer into a reel, and share the same story as a LinkedIn post.
How we built it
We connected three parts in one web app: an interview studio, a timeline editor, and a content workspace. The browser captures the session using the user’s camera and microphone. The editor turns selected moments from the recording into vertical clips, and the content workspace uses the transcript or supplied notes to prepare social drafts.
The hackathon demo uses prerecorded questions from our avatar host, NOVA. Contextual follow-up questions are available in the optional long-form mode with configured AI access.
Challenges we ran into
Recording and editing in the browser meant accounting for camera and microphone permissions, keeping the host and guest audible, and fitting landscape footage into a vertical frame. We also wanted users to be able to review captions and drafts before sharing, so they can keep their own voice and correct anything that needs a second look.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We built a browser workflow that takes a real recorded answer into an editor and exports it as a vertical clip. The demo lets judges see the question, the answer, and the resulting clip in one session. That same recording can also become podcast audio and the source for several social posts.
What we learned
We started with the idea of making podcast production easier. Building the podcast flow showed us how much of the work happens before recording begins. A specific question gives people a starting point and helps them tell a story worth clipping.
What's next for PodPilot AI
We want to run a four-week pilot with founders and independent experts who need to publish regularly. We’ll track how many finish an interview, export something they’re happy with, and come back the following week. We’ll use what we learn to improve follow-up questions, speed up editing, and test whether users would pay for hosted AI interviews and reusable brand presets.
Built With
- ai
- aipodcast
- podcast
