the mind behind the lab
PhD in Computer Science. Writing code since 1983. AI Engineer at Gauntlet AI. Still learning.
Zac Smith wrote his first line of code in 1983. Forty-three years later, he's still writing it. Still learning. Still shipping.
He earned a PhD in Computer Science with a specialization in Cybersecurity Engineering. Two master's degrees. Former professor of computer science and cybersecurity at NMSU. Production software for Best Buy, IMAX, CVS Pharmacy, and 50+ Fortune 500 companies. 1.4 million users reached on Stack Overflow.
Today, he's an AI Engineer at Gauntlet AI, the program that trains elite engineers for $200k+/yr roles at Zapier, Carvana, GoFundMe, and Opendoor. He's closely involved in Gauntlet for America, an initiative building AI-native engineering capability for U.S. government and public sector systems.
Ask him what he is and he'll say he's a student. With a PhD, Fortune 500 clients, and 43 years of code under his belt, he's still learning. Still curious.
He teaches prompt engineering and agent-based development at Gauntlet AI and Bloom Tech. Digital Thought Labs is where the engineering meets the research: case studies, thought leadership, and documentation alongside the code.
And he wrote The Chicken on Fortnite.
What is Digital Thought Labs?
The Mission
Document what actually works in AI engineering. Not theory. Not hype. Real systems, real data, real outcomes. Published openly for builders who want to learn from experience, not marketing.
The Approach
Build it. Document it. Share it. Every case study is a real project. Every research piece comes from hands-on engineering. The lab is where ideas get tested, not just discussed.
The Philosophy
The tools change. The landscape shifts. The fundamentals don't. Disciplined engineering, honest documentation, relentless curiosity. That's what keeps the lab ahead of the curve.