Welcome to the 1st episode of season 3! In this episode of Disambiguation, host Michael Fauscette sits down with Matt Van Itallie, founder and CEO of SEMA, to explore the critical role of AI in code maintenance. They discuss the challenges that executives face in gaining visibility into their engineering organizations and discuss how SEMA aims to bridge that gap.

Matt shares his unique background, from his upbringing in a family of programmers to his journey through various sectors, including education and technology. He explains the origin of SEMA and its mission to provide a comprehensive understanding of code health, emphasizing the importance of translating complex technical data into actionable insights for business leaders.

The conversation covers a range of topics, including:
-The difficulties of creating a unified CTO dashboard for engineering insights.
-The significance of context in assessing code quality and technical debt.
-The impact of generative AI on software development and maintenance.
-Strategies for managing risks associated with AI-generated code and open-source software.

Matt also offers valuable advice on how organizations can effectively manage technical debt and the importance of aligning engineering goals with business outcomes.

Tune in for an informative discussion that will help business leaders understand how to leverage AI tools for maximum impact in their software development processes!

Key Takeaways:
-The importance of visibility in engineering organizations.
-How to contextualize code health metrics for executive understanding.
-The role of generative AI in enhancing productivity and code quality.
-Strategies for mitigating risks associated with AI and open-source software.
-Matt Recommends:
-Brian Kaplan, professor of economics at George Mason University
-Ethan Mollick, professor of management at Wharton. 

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