Rachel Laycock

In this engaging discussion, Rachel Laycock, Global CTO of ThoughtWorks, shares her insights from 15 years in technology leadership. She delves into the importance of the Technology Radar, which encourages rich debate on software trends. Laycock expresses skepticism about the current AI hype, emphasizing its true potential in tackling complex issues like legacy code rather than merely speeding up coding. The conversation also highlights the need for human creativity and expertise as automation rises, ensuring that seasoned engineers remain invaluable in the evolving tech landscape.

Rob Mee, CEO of Mechanical Orchard, and Rachel Laycock, CTO of Thoughtworks, discuss the challenges of modernizing mainframe systems using generative AI. They explore how their collaboration has led to innovative tools that simplify the complexity of legacy codebases. The conversation highlights the gradual approach required for effective modernization and the importance of skilled developers. They also emphasize the role of generative AI in identifying crucial data flows and creating reliable new code, prioritizing quality and maintainability throughout the process.

Rachel Laycock, the CTO at ThoughtWorks, brings her expertise in AI-first software delivery to the conversation. She dives into the transformative potential of AI in the software development lifecycle, emphasizing how it can tackle modernization challenges and reshape team dynamics. Laycock discusses the importance of adopting an AI-first mindset, navigating technical debt, and balancing speed with quality in development. She also advocates for flexibility in strategies and prioritizing essential projects to thrive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.