Generative AI dominates the conversation, but does it actually make it easier to build, lead, and sustain high-performing engineering teams?

Host Conor Bronsdon sits down with Charity Majors, co-founder and CTO of Honeycomb (.io), and the mind behind charity.wtf. Known for her sharp insights and unfiltered opinions, Charity kicks off the discussion by expanding on her popular article: 'Generative AI is not going to build your engineering team for you.' Together, they explore how AI has altered the dynamics for engineering teams and leaders. 

The discussion navigates the complex dynamics of hiring in an AI-enabled era, challenging the "senior-only" trend and championing the vital role of junior engineers in creating learning organizations. Charity also explains why writing code is often the "easy part" compared to the full lifecycle of owning and operating systems, a challenge amplified by AI-generated code. 

Finally, Conor and Charity discuss the risk of "cognitive decay" from over-reliance on AI tools and why fostering deep system understanding remains paramount for engineers and leaders.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:51 Generative AI and Engineering Teams

02:26 The Writing Process and Inspiration

03:49 AI's Impact on Hiring and Team Building

05:30 Embracing AI and Automation

07:43 The Role of Junior Engineers

09:33 Building Effective Engineering Teams

17:01 Future of AI in Code Generation

20:07 High Performing Engineering Teams

21:48 Evolving Expectations for Engineering Managers

22:41 Cognitive Decay

25:00 Feedback Loops in Software Systems

26:56 Hiring for Potential vs. Experience

29:17 The Future of Observability

39:50 Closing Thoughts and Advice for Engineers

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Learn more about Honeycomb: www.honeycomb.io

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