Welcome to HackerNoon’s Meet the Writer Interview series, where we learn a bit more about the contributors that have written some of our favorite stories.

Let’s start! Tell us a bit about yourself—for example, name, profession, and personal interests.

My name is Justin Houck. By trade, I'm an AI Architect and the founder of an AgTech company. I enjoy building systems, architecting full-stack AI applications, and designing new hardware.

Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top Story about?

My latest top story, Google DeepMind Taught an AI to Tame a Star: Here's What It Means for the Future of Your Job, is about a major shift in AI. Instead of just using a single AI application, we can now act as AI Orchestrators, building and conducting entire teams of specialized AI agents. I used Google DeepMind's work on controlling a nuclear fusion reactor as a case study to show how this methodology can be used to solve seemingly impossible problems.

Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about?

I started with writing deep dives on specific projects by deconstructing the code and explaining the problems they solved. Recently, my focus has shifted upwards. Now, I'm more interested in the architectural patterns and strategic methodologies behind the code. My recent writing, like the piece on AI Orchestration, is about exploring the new playbooks for how we build in the age of AI.

Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?)

I start with a spark of an idea and then write the raw thoughts out. Once I have something that I think makes sense, I use an AI tool to help me research and translate my idea into a readable form. After that, I review and refine until I get something I think a human will be willing to read and post.

Being a writer in tech can be a challenge. It’s not often our main role, but an addition to another one. What is the biggest challenge you have when it comes to writing?

The biggest challenge is bridging the gap between a technical proof and a compelling story. It's one thing to build a system that works; it's another to explain why it matters in a way that resonates. There's a vulnerability in putting a big, architectural idea out there, but that's where the most interesting conversations happen.

What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career?

My immediate mission is to secure funding for the AgTech hardware I've developed: the Micro Environmental Livestock Monitoring System. The goal is to move from our working prototype to a full production run. The long-term vision is to use the massive, proprietary dataset we'll generate to build a 'digital twin' of the farm, allowing us to use advanced simulations to optimize everything from feed to herd health.

Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice?

I love to binge-watch really good TV series.

Coaching youth sports.

What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next?

More deep dives on the practical art of AI Orchestration. I'm fascinated by the idea of agentic workflows and how we, as developers, can architect and manage teams of AI agents. My next piece will likely be a hands-on guide to building a more complex crew of AI agents for a real-world business problem.

What’s your opinion on HackerNoon as a platform for writers?

It's one of the few places where you can be deeply technical without being boring. The community has a high bar for authenticity; they want to see the code and the real-world lessons, not just the marketing fluff. The editorial feedback is a huge plus; it helps sharpen your thinking.

Thanks for taking the time to join our “Meet the writer” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words?

Have the courage to make the first step. Strength to take a second. And endurance to go for as long as called.