Cheeky Pint What comes after smartphones, with Snap CEO Evan Spiegel
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Apr 27, 2026 
Evan Spiegel, Snap co-founder and CEO, drops into a lively chat about life after smartphones. He explores why AR glasses could make computing feel more human. There is talk of the brutal challenge of building stylish spatial computers, why Snap built its own software stack, and how AI now writes much of the company’s code. The conversation also turns to messaging, teen phone habits, moderation, and Norway’s early Snapchat love.
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AI Turns Specs Into a Platform for Custom Software
- Spiegel argues the killer app idea is fading because AI makes bespoke software cheap enough for users and small teams to build exactly what they need.
- He says agentic Lens Studio and exploding app creation weaken the App Store moat that once blocked new computing platforms.
Snap Competes in Messaging and Monetizes Two Ways
- Snap mainly competes with messaging services, not broad entertainment platforms, because private communication remains Snapchat's core behavior.
- Spiegel says Snap has two revenue engines: ads and a fast-growing direct business with 25 million Snapchat Plus subscribers and a billion-dollar run rate.
Why Messaging Networks Peak With Close Friends
- Snapchat grew by proving value comes from people you actually talk to, not from maximizing total network size or friend counts.
- Spiegel says forcing users to add friends for feed inventory broke social media, so Snap separated social messaging from media consumption in Discover.