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Why AI-Generated Code Needs Technical Oversight, Not More Product Managers
AI-empowered, non-technical PMs are a liability because they cannot audit the architectural integrity of AI-generated code. UX risk is manageable. Architectural risk is catastrophic. The gap between prototypes and secure systems is widening. The solution is not more PMs. It is engineers who own the product end to end.
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Finally, rode the Skyline Drive
Rode 320 miles out on the Suzuki, and took in the full length of the Skyline Drive. Breathtaking views, once I got beyond the fog!
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Human Slop vs AI Slop
The argument that AI code is slop and human code is clean is backwards. Humans have been shipping bad code for decades. Backdoor textareas, 1500-line methods, zero test coverage. AI just produces the same ratio faster. Your pipeline was already broken. Fix that.
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The CTO’s Year-End Audit: Are You Building Your Vision or Just a Backlog?
December is the only quiet time you have. Don’t waste it clearing your inbox. Use this silence to audit your architecture against your Vision Document. Move beyond simple feature roadmaps and focus on building strategic capabilities. If your environment doesn’t support your 2026 goals, fix it now before the chaos returns.
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Morphing into James McAvoy
Playing with AI to transform a selfie into a stylistic portrait inspired by James McAvoy’s movie “Pose.” After describing the desired photo detail to Gemini Pro, they generated an impressive monochrome image. The process evolved into animating the image, showcasing a novel technique for creating unique personalized visuals.
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Change Management
As a CTO, effective change management is crucial for delivering solutions to users who may resist significant changes. Develop a detailed project plan outlining responsibilities, timelines, and success criteria. Communicate extensively with stakeholders, providing training on new systems to ensure users understand the changes. Over-communicate throughout the process for success.
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Only takes a minute
Navigating the rapidly changing technology landscape can be stressful. It’s essential to engage in regular, small learning increments, such as 15 minutes daily, to build knowledge over time. Embrace a self-learning model without pressure, prioritize your time effectively, and share your insights to reinforce understanding. Progress comes from consistent, bite-sized efforts.
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Quality
Quality is a multifaceted concept recognized through tangible attributes, such as performance, reliability, and aesthetics. In software, quality is critical, impacting user experience and operational safety. By adhering to quality dimensions and maintaining vigilance in development, teams ensure high standards, preventing failures and fostering client trust essential for business sustainability.
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Consistency
The importance of consistency in both bourbon production and software development. It emphasizes that, like distillers who maintain quality through careful processes, software developers must ensure strong quality control at every stage. By taking individual responsibility for output quality, producers can enhance consistency and overall effectiveness in their work.
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Empathy
The importance of empathy in product development, encouraging creators to consider the end user’s experience. By understanding users’ perspectives and needs, developers can enhance productivity and create solutions that resonate emotionally. The goal is to foster a positive connection with users, ensuring outputs are accessible and valuable.
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Art of Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS)
We, humans that is, love to complicate things and it seems to come naturally without too much effort. The longer we work with a given project, the more complex it becomes. I am not just talking about software engineering, but pretty much anything we undertake. Yet how does this seem to happen? The short answer is that we slowly turn up the heat on ourselves, each little turn feeling like…
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A day in the AI life of a CTO
Let me take you through a typical day in the life of a Chief Technology Officer in the age of AI and how it has woven itself into every aspect.
the legend that is, Alan Williamson
For over 24 years, I’ve shared my thoughts here on this blog whenever the muse strikes.
It’s unpredictable, honest, unedited, and occasionally witty. I’m living the best years of my life, working harder than ever, learning each day and enjoying every second.
