Dev Interrupted

Andrew McNamara, Director of Applied Machine Learning at Shopify, shares insights from his extensive experience in AI. He introduces the concept of 'vibe entrepreneurship,' highlighting Shopify Sidekick, an AI co-founder for e-commerce. Andrew discusses the importance of robust evaluation systems in building trustworthy AI, revealing how Shopify uses LLMs to measure user fulfillment. The conversation dives into human-AI collaboration and the transformative potential of AI in boosting entrepreneurship while preserving human creativity.

Martin Woodward, VP of Developer Relations at GitHub and an early user of Copilot, reveals that the success of AI relies heavily on a strong DevOps culture. He discusses the evolution of GitHub Copilot from a simple tool to a powerful coding agent. Martin highlights how trusted teams can maximize AI's benefits through effective guardrails and custom instructions. The conversation also unveils how AI influences better communication and documentation among developers, marking a shift in the skills needed for success in an AI-driven landscape.

Minh Nguyen, VP of Engineering at Transcend, shares her transformative journey from hands-on coding to impactful leadership. She discusses the difficult transition from an 'I'll do it myself' mindset, highlighting the importance of delegation and clear communication. Minh delves into building resilient engineering cultures and reveals how Transcend structures teams around customer problems rather than tech stacks. With insights on navigating growth challenges, her candid lessons offer a valuable perspective for current and aspiring leaders.

In this engaging discussion, Matt DeBergalis, CEO of Apollo GraphQL, and Andrew Boyagi, Customer CTO at Atlassian, dive into the transformative impact of AI on developer experiences. They introduce the concept of 'agent experience' and emphasize the need for a shift in how APIs are designed to meet the demands of AI. The conversation highlights the essential role of structured data for AI reliability while exploring future trends in personalization and the growing need for communication skills in programming. This insightful exchange is a must-listen for tech leaders!

Dr. Tatyana Mamut, CEO of Wayfound and expert in the intersection of AI and organizational culture, discusses the phenomenon of AI sycophancy—how AI tends to please users at the cost of truth. She advocates for treating AI as employees rather than tools, proposing an 'AI supervisor' to manage accountability. With Kelly Vaughn from Zapier, they delve into fostering a collaborative workforce where humans and AI enhance productivity while addressing cultural shifts necessary for successful integration of AI in organizations.

Itamar Friedman, co-founder and CEO of Qodo, discusses the vital differences in AI strategy for startups and large enterprises. He emphasizes the importance of speed for startups and overcoming bottlenecks for larger organizations. Itamar introduces the concept of 'grounded coding' and urges teams to map their processes for AI integration. He also highlights the emerging role of dev platform teams as 'agent keepers' for AI implementation. With actionable insights, he shows how specialized AI tools can address specific challenges in software development.

Chris Westerhold, Global Practice Director at ThoughtWorks, reveals how engineering teams often ship more code but deliver less business impact. He discusses the hidden waste in engineering processes and why a clear 'North Star' is essential for aligning efforts with business goals. Chris emphasizes that efficiency issues stem from people and processes, not just technology. He advocates for a systems thinking approach to foster real improvement while balancing developer freedom with standardization, ultimately unlocking a team's true potential.

Explore the transformative shift from AI coding assistants to intelligent, agentic systems. Discover why just buying tools isn't enough for productivity gains, as Dan and Ben emphasize the importance of cohesive knowledge management and modernized infrastructure. They discuss engineer sentiments towards AI and the need for a robust strategy to integrate AI into development workflows effectively. With insights from engineering leaders, the conversation highlights the future of orchestrated systems where AI agents enhance the entire software delivery lifecycle.

Andrew Hamilton, Co-founder and CTO of Layer, unveils the shift towards AI agents as consumers of products. He emphasizes the need for product designers to rethink experiences for this new user base. Discussions cover the emergence of an 'app store for LLMs' and the Model Context Protocol's role in enhancing AI interactions. Andrew shares insights on identifying MCP candidates and the significance of experimentation in the rapidly evolving landscape. Tune in to explore the transformative potential of AI in software development!

Kabir Bedi, Head of Product for Image and Video Generation at Amazon Ads, shares his vision of revolutionizing video advertising through generative AI. He reveals how Amazon's innovative video generator allows businesses, big and small, to produce engaging videos with just a click. Kabir discusses the power of customer feedback in shaping product development and the importance of a curious, collaborative engineering culture. His insights highlight the blend of technology and creativity, making video production accessible to all.