Software development is experiencing substantial changes as AI tools alter how teams build, test, and deploy applications. Kyle Hauptfleisch, Chief Growth Officer at Daemon, explores how organisations can successfully navigate these changes without losing the human element that makes great software possible.
Kyle brings extensive experience across technology publishing, advertising, core banking, and now leads digital change initiatives at a boutique consultancy. He explains why the current discourse around AI in development divides experienced engineers, and shares practical insights from Daemon's AI-first squad approach.
The conversation covers:
• Why AI should augment rather than replace human decision-making in software development
• The essential role of stakeholder engagement in AI adoption projects
• How AI can improve the entire software development lifecycle from requirements gathering through to documentation
• The motorcycle versus bicycle analogy: why using AI requires changing how you work
• Moving from orchestra member to conductor: the shift in engineering roles
• Performance metrics that demonstrate real progress: lead time from whiteboard to production
• Daemon's AI-first squad methodology and how it works with client teams
• Three practical steps technology leaders can take to embrace AI-first engineering
Kyle addresses the tension between developers who see AI as creativity-killing automation and those embracing the acceleration it provides. He argues that engineering stops when coding starts - highlighting how AI can handle the production work whilst humans focus on problem-solving and design.
Timestamps:
02:23 Kyle's background and journey to Daemon
03:28 What Daemon does as a digital and AI consultancy
04:38 The current state of AI adoption in software development
07:25 Framework for AI adoption: strategy, data, culture, and applications
09:31 Stakeholder engagement challenges and solutions
11:32 AI-first squads: the core proposition and methodology
12:07 Performance metrics and measuring success
13:18 How AI helps across the software development lifecycle
14:19 Medical organisation case study: turning data into information
14:30 AI in coding: solving problems that have been solved before
18:10 Documentation and unexpected use cases like case study generation
20:32 The motorcycle versus bicycle analogy
21:26 Deploying AI-first squads versus changing engineering capability
25:58 Three actions for technology leaders to embrace AI-first engineering
Want to learn more?
Visit Daemon's website: http://dae.mn
Connect with Kyle Hauptfleisch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-hauptfleisch-84ba2357/
Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/
Email tim.b@techpros.io
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