Finding Meaning in the Age of AI, Personality Profile: Nifemi Aluko

‍ ‍ If you're a regular at Ideology or Awesome Coffee, you've probably walked past Nifemi Aluko working from his laptop. The work happening on that laptop has led to five books, a weekly newsletter, and a business helping founders tell better stories.

Author and entrepreneur Nifemi Aluko working from Ideology, where he spends many mornings writing and meeting with clients.

Nifemi, an author, entrepreneur, and resident of South Park, is currently putting the finishing touches on his fifth book. He has published two science fiction novels and two nonfiction books, all exploring the relationship between culture and technology. His latest book asks an increasingly relevant question: How do we continue to find meaning in an age of automation?

When I asked Nifemi why he writes, his answer wasn't about publishing books or becoming an author.

"It's a form of self-work," he said.

From science fiction to nonfiction, Nifemi’s books explore the evolving relationship between people, culture, and technology.

For him, writing is how he works through ideas, organizes his thoughts, and challenges himself creatively. Publishing is only part of the process. He also enjoys finding the people who will connect with those ideas.

That process doesn't stop when a book is finished. Every week, Nifemi publishes a newsletter on Substack, where many of his ideas begin to take shape long before they become chapters. You can find it at naporepublic.substack.com. He describes the newsletter as the foundation of his writing practice where ideas are tested, refined, and gradually grow into books.

A copy of Toffy’s Divide, Nifemi’s first science fiction novel, resting on a DJ controller that reflects how music inspired the story.

With a fifth book about to be published, you might assume writing occupies most of his time. In reality, he estimates it accounts for only about 15 to 20 percent of his week.

‍ ‍Most of his days are spent running NapoRepublic, where he helps tech founders, consultants, and early-stage businesses build growth systems and communicate more effectively with the right customers. He’s uniquely suited to this work because of the combination of experiences he brings to it: an engineering background that helps him think in systems, entrepreneurial experience that helps him understand what founders are trying to build, and years of writing that have taught him how to translate complex ideas into stories people understand. Together, those skills help founders develop clear messaging and repeatable go-to-market strategies.

Between the books he writes and the founders he works with, Nifemi spends a lot of time thinking about technology. That naturally includes artificial intelligence. Although he works closely with founders building AI companies, he doesn't see technology as a replacement for creativity. He believes writing isn't simply producing words on a page. It's the experience of thinking, questioning, and creating something that reflects the world we live in today. As he put it, "Why would I give a machine something that I enjoy doing?"

Before moving to Los Angeles, Nifemi was living in the Bay Area. Friends who lived in South Park encouraged him to check out the neighborhood, where he found the walkability, cultural diversity, and city energy he had been looking for. The work of South Park's Clean Team and Safety Ambassadors also stood out, giving him the sense that South Park is a place that's cared for. He and his wife enjoy walking through Grand Hope Park and visiting the South Park Farmers' Market, where they often run into neighbors and stop to say hello.

South Park’s walkability, diversity, and city energy are what convinced Nifemi to make the neighborhood home.

Nifemi also loves the energy of living downtown. Whether it's thousands of fans heading to a Lakers game or the crowds that recently filled the neighborhood during the Anime Expo, he enjoys simply walking through South Park and taking it all in. "It makes me feel more alive," he said.

When asked whether he'd change anything about South Park, Nifemi smiled. First, he joked that some dog owners could use a little more training on cleaning up after their pets. Second? More coffee shops. Given how many hours he’s spent writing in them, that second request isn't much of a surprise.

By Michelle Morehead