AI Expert Harper Carroll Teaches 500,000 on Instagram

Stanford-educated computer scientist demystifies AI for the masses

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In just a few short years, AI has shifted from the theoretical to the very real, changing how we live and work. But for many, it can still feel frustratingly complex. Enter Harper Carroll, a Stanford-educated computer scientist who has spent her career working with AI models at companies like Meta and startup Brev.dev. She's made it her mission to educate people about AI on Instagram, where she has more than 535,000 followers.

Why it matters

As AI becomes more prevalent in our lives, it's important for people to understand the technology and its potential benefits and ethical concerns. Carroll's efforts to demystify AI and make it accessible to a wide audience can empower more people to engage with and leverage this transformative technology.

The details

Carroll, who dreamt of being an actor as a kid, instead pursued a career in tech. In 2023, she built a coding guide and posted it to X, gaining over 50,000 views despite having only 30 followers. This prompted her to start sharing her AI knowledge on social media, and in 2024 she began posting to Instagram. Her 10 Days of AI Basics series on the app has been particularly popular, growing her Instagram audience from around 2,000 to over 200,000 followers in just three weeks. Carroll now regularly works with brands like Microsoft and enterprise AI platform Workday.

  • In 2023, Carroll built a coding guide and posted it to X, gaining over 50,000 views.
  • In 2024, Carroll began posting AI content on Instagram.
  • Carroll's 10 Days of AI Basics series on Instagram grew her following from 2,000 to over 200,000 in just three weeks.

The players

Harper Carroll

A 30-year-old Stanford-educated computer scientist who has spent her career working with AI models at companies like Meta and startup Brev.dev. She has made it her mission to educate people about AI on Instagram, where she has more than 535,000 followers.

Brev.dev

A startup that was acquired by NVIDIA in 2024, where Carroll worked on AI models.

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What they’re saying

“I hear a lot from people afraid of AI without knowing fully what it is. It's less scary when you actually look under the hood.”

— Harper Carroll, AI Expert (substack.com)

“There has not been a technology like this in our lifetimes. I just want to get it into the hands of as many people as I possibly can because it is so empowering.”

— Harper Carroll, AI Expert (substack.com)

What’s next

Carroll is launching a four-week course called "From AI User to AI Builder" that will help people learn the fundamentals of how AI models work and how to use them to bring their ideas to life.

The takeaway

Harper Carroll's mission to demystify AI and make it accessible to a wide audience can empower more people to engage with and leverage this transformative technology, which has the potential to benefit a variety of industries and improve people's lives.