With massive context windows and new agent frameworks, do vector databases still matter? Ram Sriharsha, CTO at Pinecone, joins the conversation to make the definitive case that they're more critical than ever. He explains that at the core of all AI is search, and externalizing this function is non-negotiable for security, auditability, and control.

Ram offers a clear starting path for engineering leaders: begin with simple Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) applications, but immediately implement a robust evaluation framework to manage hallucinations and ensure quality. He shares his perspective on the skills that matter most now, arguing that curiosity and the rise of the generalist engineer are critical in an AI-powered world. This episode is a guide to building the AI stack from the ground up, from using AI as a "good junior engineer" for testing to cultivating the engineering mindset of tomorrow.

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Follow today's guest(s):

• Learn more about Pinecone: pinecone.io
• Pinecone Tutorials & Blog: Explore guides on RAG, vector databases, and more
• Connect with Ram Sriharsha: LinkedIn

Referenced in today's show:

• Your New 500K AI Coworkers Just Arrived
• How I influence tech company politics as a staff software engineer
• Coinbase says 40% of code written by AI, mostly tests and Typescript
• Celebrating 1 Trillion Web Pages Archived

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