What I learned building a no-signup demo for an AI tool

I just shipped a no-signup demo for TextSlaps and it changed how people interact with the product almost immediately.

Originally, signup came first. But feedback kept pointing to the same thing:

people wanted to feel the output before committing.

What surprised me:

• Most demo users try realistic, high-stakes scenarios

• They don’t explore features — they test outcomes

• The “first reply” moment matters more than polish

I wrote a deeper breakdown around one common use case:

following up after being ghosted without sounding desperate.

Curious how other founders decide what to gate vs what to demo early.