Reid Hoffman asked AI to 'clone LinkedIn'. What happened next surprised the co-founder

The prototype Replit created for LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman.

When LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman prompted an AI tool to replicate the platform, he was surprised to find that it produced a "surprisingly functional prototype". Hoffman shared the results on LinkedIn and said that it was a powerful reminder of the power and potential of AI.

"I asked Replit to 'clone LinkedIn' — just to see how far it would get with a single prompt. The result? A surprisingly functional prototype. It’s a powerful reminder: with the right framing, today’s AI tools can turn a single idea into working software," he wrote. His message was similar to the one conveyed by Replit CEO last week.

@Replit pic.twitter.com/qx2UlaSaT5
Reid Hoffman (@reidhoffman) April 5, 2025

Amjad Masad had argued that learning to code is now pointless as AI rapidly progresses towards full automation of coding tasks. Instead, he advised people to focus on problem-solving and creativity, which he believes will remain valuable skills in an AI-driven world.

“I no longer think you should learn to code,” Masad said on X. "Learn how to think, learn how to break down problems, learn how to communicate clearly."

Replit is an AI-powered platform that enables users to build apps and websites with minimal coding expertise. His statement was influenced by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who recently predicted that within six months, AI could be generating up to 90 percent of all code.

Responding to Amodei, Masad added, “In the upcase, like what Dario just said recently, all code will be AI generated. I assume that on this optimisation path we’re on, where agents are gonna get better and better and better, the answer would be different. The answer would be no. It would be a waste of time to learn how to code. But you could have different predictions, and I think different people will make different assumptions.”