
The Swyx Mixtape
swyx's personal picks pod.
Weekdays: the best audio clips from podcasts I listen to, in 10 minutes or less!
Fridays: Music picks!
Weekends: long form talks and conversations!
This is a passion project; never any ads, 100% just recs from me to people who like the stuff I like.
Share and give feedback: tag @swyx on Twitter or email audio questions to swyx @ swyx.io
Latest episodes

20 snips
Dec 19, 2024 • 1h 4min
[Chit Chat Stocks] swyx on the AI majors
Shawn Wang, a software engineer and the pioneer of the term 'AI engineer', delves into the booming field of artificial intelligence. He discusses how AI is reshaping the startup ecosystem and public markets, detailing competitive strategies from giants like OpenAI and Google. Shawn emphasizes the significance of proprietary data and first-mover advantages in AI. He also explores the rise of AI engineers and autonomous agents, revealing their potential to transform industries and enhance productivity. A fascinating look at the future of technology!

Oct 10, 2024 • 1h 16min
Intentionality, AI Eng, Devtools Angels, and DevRel - on Scaling DevTools
Shawn Wang, an AI Engineer and angel investor known for his influential essay "Rise of the AI Engineer," dives into the evolving landscape of developer tools. He discusses the importance of intentionality in career and community building, alongside insights from organizing AI engineer conferences. Topics include the impact of AI on developer roles, angel investing strategies in emerging technologies like Supabase, and the significance of developer relations. Shawn also addresses concerns about developer obsolescence while championing human oversight in AI advancements.

Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 1min
AI Eng on the Sandra Kublik pod
Swyx, an expert in building AI technologies, dives into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI engineering. He discusses the intricacies of large language models and highlights the essential curiosity and creativity required in today's engineers. The conversation shifts to the balance of effective altruism and practical implementation in AI, emphasizing the need for quality data and user experience. Swyx also shares insights from an AI conference, shedding light on community engagement and the importance of shaping AI products through UX.

Aug 22, 2024 • 37min
[Generation Ship] AI Engineering for nontechnical people
Shawn 'swyx' Wang, known for coining 'AI Engineer,' shares his expertise in AI advancements. He discusses the evolving role of AI engineering and the need for accessible tools. The conversation touches on 'peak ChatGPT' and the shift towards broader AI applications. Shawn also emphasizes learning foundational AI concepts and the significance of diversity in AI development. They foresee a future where AI enhances daily life, balancing optimism with caution about the challenges ahead.

Jul 3, 2024 • 34min
[Plan B] swyx on nontechnical Singapore podcast
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/plan-b-news-beat-ZoCrxdekY79/https://open.spotify.com/episode/45dTtNCiIxqySG1lU5addY?si=SeMrk4FBR_yGc4NtG8Ll5Q

Jul 2, 2024 • 50min
[High Agency] AI Engineer World's Fair Preview
High Agency Pod DescriptionIn this episode, I chatted with Shawn Wang about his upcoming AI engineering conference and what an AI engineer really is. It's been a year since he penned the viral essay "Rise of the AI Engineer' and we discuss if this new role will be enduring, the make up of the optimal AI team and trends in machine learning.Timestamps00:00 - Introduction and background on Shawn Wang (Swyx)03:45 - Reflecting on the "Rise of the AI Engineer" essay07:30 - Skills and characteristics of AI Engineers12:15 - Team composition for AI products16:30 - Vertical vs. horizontal AI startups23:00 - Advice for AI product creators and leaders28:15 - Tools and buying vs. building for AI products33:30 - Key trends in AI research and development41:00 - Closing thoughts and information on the AI Engineer World Fair Summit

Apr 26, 2024 • 10min
The Onion's A Very Fatal Murder
Jeff Lawson just bought The Onion.This is one of my favorite episodes of their NPR podcast parody of Serial.https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/a-very-fatal-murder/episode-5-part-1-did-my-tJbSp9yP2wU/

Apr 17, 2024 • 43min
AI Engineering, Devin, and the Future of Software - swyx on Modern Web Podcast
Exploring the journey from software engineering to AI engineering, establishing AI engineering as an industry, importance of practical skills, role of 'rag stack', APIs in software development, co-generation in AI, Devin tool for developers, AI safety concerns, AI use cases for non-ML engineers

Feb 29, 2024 • 1h 8min
Serena Colyer - Intentionality
In a captivating conversation, Serena Colyer shares her insights on living with intentionality. Known for her diverse interests, including cooking and language learning, she breaks down the elements of intentionality—ranging from resilience to creativity. Serena dives into nurturing relationships and the role of journaling in self-discovery. She also candidly discusses loneliness and the importance of community connections while pursuing health goals. Her thought-provoking questions challenge listeners to reflect on their own definitions of a meaningful, intentional life.

Jan 13, 2024 • 31min
[Weekend Drop] Swyx on CodeRyan podcast
"Navigating AI and Software 3.0: A Tech Career Guide for Developers": a more beginner oriented podcast interview for a new Youtuber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5qfKKct6dchere are the recommended resources for others who listened latent space university: https://www.latent.space/p/lsu-betaAI engineering 101+201 https://www.latent.space/p/aie-2023-workshopsAndrej Karpathy's software 2.0: https://karpathy.medium.com/software-2-0-a64152b37c35Voyager paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.16291January 10, 2024
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