Guest Kirk Kaiser explores the intersections of art, coding, and AI. They discuss coding as art and the interdisciplinary tech and creative studies program. They delve into the shift in tech culture and the speaker's experience building video editing tools with AI. They explore the implications of generative AI, discuss the speaker's journey into technology, and share projects involving bird object recognition and self-driving skateboard ramp. The guest also talks about their admiration for artist Daito Manabe and ends with a sponsor segment by Major League Hacking.
Coding can be a creative and exciting pursuit, as shown in Kirk Kaiser's book 'Make Art with Python'
Developer advocacy is about empowering others, building trust, and finding supportive communities in the tech world.
Deep dives
Origin Story and Early Interest in Technology
Kirk Kaiser got interested in technology at the age of 12 when he discovered he could write software for a computer. He became hooked on the idea of building worlds with technology and eventually installed Linux on his family computer.
Merging Art and Coding
Kirk started merging art and coding when he discovered high schoolers building genetically engineered organisms. The high schoolers had a negative view of computer science, seeing it as only for jobs and not cool. This motivated Kirk to write a book called 'Make Art with Python' to show that coding could be a creative and exciting pursuit.
The Potential of AI
Kirk has recently been exploring AI and experimenting with video editing tools using AI. He believes that AI has the potential to create new tools and make human lives better, such as improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists. However, he also acknowledges potential risks and uncertainties surrounding AI's impact on the future.
The Role of Developer Advocacy and Empowering Developers
Kirk believes that developer advocacy is about empowering others and highlighting their work, rather than focusing on self-promotion. He emphasizes the importance of having conversations with leadership to communicate the value of creative work and the potential outcomes it can bring. He also discusses the importance of building trust and finding supportive communities in the tech world.
In this episode, Jon talks to Kirk Kaiser, former Head of Developer Relations at Gitpod and author of Make Art with Python, a book that teaches programming fundamentals through art instead of print statements.
In this episode, Kirk and Jon explore software development through the lens of creativity to uncover the intersections of art, coding, and AI. Join them as they provide practical insights into the world of technology by highlighting its connection to art.