diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cb3fada766ec..40464add6a2e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
 <p align="center">
   <a href="#why-build-carbon">Why?</a> |
   <a href="#language-goals">Goals</a> |
+  <a href="#project-status">Status</a> |
   <a href="#getting-started">Getting started</a> |
   <a href="#join-us">Join us</a>
 </p>
 
 **See our [announcement video](https://youtu.be/omrY53kbVoA) from
-[CppNorth](https://cppnorth.ca/)**
+[CppNorth](https://cppnorth.ca/).** Note that Carbon is
+[not ready for use](#project-status).
 
 <a href="docs/images/snippets.md#quicksort">
 <!--
@@ -122,10 +124,13 @@ and provides a deeper view into our goals for the Carbon project and language.
 
 ## Project status
 
-Carbon is currently an experimental project. We want to better understand
-whether we can build a language that meets our successor language criteria, and
-whether the resulting language can gather a critical mass of interest within the
-larger C++ industry and community.
+Carbon Language is currently an experimental project. There is no working
+compiler or toolchain. You can see the demo interpreter for Carbon on
+[compiler-explorer.com](http://carbon.compiler-explorer.com/).
+
+We want to better understand whether we can build a language that meets our
+successor language criteria, and whether the resulting language can gather a
+critical mass of interest within the larger C++ industry and community.
 
 Currently, we have fleshed out several core aspects of both Carbon the project
 and the language:
@@ -145,14 +150,14 @@ and the language:
     detailed analysis of the specific semantic model and abstract machine of
     Carbon. We call this the [Carbon Explorer](/explorer/).
 
-We are currently focused on getting more broad feedback and participation from
-the C++ community,
-[completing the 0.1 language design](/docs/project/roadmap.md#completing-the-language-design),
+If you're interested in contributing, we would love help
+[completing the 0.1 language designs](/docs/project/roadmap.md#completing-the-language-design),
 and
 [completing the Carbon Explorer implementation of this design](/docs/project/roadmap.md#demo-implementation-of-core-features-with-working-examples).
-Beyond that, we plan to prioritize C++ interoperability and a realistic
-toolchain that implements the 0.1 language and can be used to evaluate Carbon in
-more detail.
+We are also currently working to get more broad feedback and participation from
+the C++ community. Beyond that, we plan to prioritize C++ interoperability and a
+realistic toolchain that implements the 0.1 language and can be used to evaluate
+Carbon in more detail.
 
 You can see our [full roadmap](/docs/project/roadmap.md) for more details.