The tiny teams era is here: ‘It’s like having a superpower’: 5 people share what it’s like to work at companies with more AI and less people

Source: Business Insider

By As told to Agnes Applegate | September 27, 2025

AI-first startups with fewer than 10 employees say they are scaling faster and spending less by leaning on AI agents for coding, research, and operations. Teams report that AI can match the output of two to three engineers, but it also raises the bar on speed and creates pressure that can strain work-life balance, shifting hiring toward people who can orchestrate and command AI systems. For small businesses, the takeaway is clear: AI fluency and process automation can be a growth superpower when paired with focused priorities and safeguards against burnout.