Alberta Tech on what AI gets right and where it still falls short for creators

The former Google engineer explains how she uses AI in her workflow, why it's terrible at comedy, and where creators should draw the line

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage and meet the Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices.

VidCon is a premier global convention for content creators, influencers, digital media brands, and fans. The event features creator panels, networking opportunities, live entertainment, meet-and-greets, and discussions on trends shaping the creator economy.

Alberta Devor didn't set out to become a creator. During the pandemic, the engineer started posting funny TikToks simply because she was bored (extremely relatable). Over time, those videos found an audience among fellow software engineers and tech-curious people, eventually leading her to leave her stable job at Google and pursue content creation full-time under the name Alberta Tech.

In this conversation with Mashable Culture Editor Crystal Bell at VidCon 2026, Alberta Tech reflects on making that leap, why her background as an engineer helped her earn her audience's trust, and how comedy has become one of her favorite ways to explain complex topics like AI and software development. She also shares her nuanced perspective on generative AI, where it fits into creators' workflows, why "vibe coding" has become such a misunderstood — and polarizing — term, and the role originality still plays in an increasingly AI-powered internet.

Plus, Alberta Tech offers practical advice for aspiring creators, from knowing when it's time to leave your day job to why staying curious can lead to your next great idea.

Watch the full interview above.

Topics Artificial Intelligence Creators

Crystal Bell

Digital Culture Editor

Crystal Bell is the Digital Culture Editor at Mashable, where she leads coverage of the creator economy, internet culture, and digital life. Her work focuses on the people, platforms, and communities shaping modern entertainment, from YouTube creators and livestreamers to fandoms, social media trends, and the evolving relationship between technology and culture. She also oversees the Mashable 101, the publication's annual list recognizing the internet's most influential creators.

Previously, she was the entertainment director at MTV News, where she helped expand the brand's coverage of fan culture, K-pop, and the internet's most passionate communities. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, PAPER, NYLON, ELLE, Glamour, NME, W, The FADER, and elsewhere on the internet.

She's exceptionally fluent in fandom and will gladly make you a K-pop playlist and/or provide anime recommendations upon request. Crystal lives in New York City with her two black cats, Howl and Sophie.