Lots of links and stuff this episode: AI isn’t a coworker, it’s just automation wrapped in hype. Tech moves fast, but nothing lasts—except bad takes, questionable business models, and the creeping realization that managers just want fewer humans to manage. Meanwhile, we live like kings and don’t even notice. Put it on iceGood episode of Software Defined Talk this week, especially the opening moment of absurdity where we, yet again, try to solve Europe’s ice problem.

Catch-up: yesterday, I went over everything you need for tech strategy and marketing. What do I know about security: limiting AI use in enterprisesI find the restrictions on using public AI chat things baffling versus the potential, but obvious benefit. But I don’t know the CISO perspective and way of thinking. What am I missing? Yes: From Melissa Incera, S&P Global Market Intelligence.But: From Melissa Incera, S&P Global Market Intelligence.My theories: It’s just too new and unknown, we don’t even know the risk and (is this a layman’s term?

In tech product management marketing, there are three phases of your “story” and execution: strategy, planning, and doing (“execution”). I think a lot of people mix up these phases, talk too much about strategy, don’t do enough planning, often poorly communicate the plans to staff, and are not “throw it all at the wall” enough with doing. I’ve worked in this area for, I don’t know, 20 years. Here’s my latest organized brain-dump from watching people from afar and close-up at many places.

This episode: AI is coming for your software job, or at least for the parts of it you actually enjoyed. Meanwhile, businesses are still stuck in pilot purgatory with generative AI, IT leaders remain unconvinced of AI’s ROI, and Java is apparently coming for Python’s AI crown. The economy may be changing not because of interest rates or labor shortages, but because everyone is drinking more water and eating fewer snacks.

Writing with ChatGPT and ClaudeI’ve been using ChatGPT and Claude a lot for writing recently. I had a long conversation in the car ride between Ghent and Amsterdam with one of my old DevOps pals and they described their AI writing process. It’s best describe it as “layering.” Well, actually, it’s just how writing is always done: incrementally at first, and then iteratively until you run out of time. Here’s the technique.

Today it’s all wastebook. Garbage Chairs of Amsterdam, June Bug edition.Wastebook“gizmocrat” and ”gizmocrats,” new govt IT outsourcing term? “Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was tweeting about guacamole prices over the weekend as Musk took over key functions of the government.” Two weeks in. “Anything threatening to be a subculture is commodified before it can walk,” attributed to William Gibson. “Tariffying,” The Economist. “There’s probably a couple of kinks in that slinky,” Sen.

Hello. How are you today? Wastebook"MAGA makeover' and “Texas Blowout.” US hair news from the UK. “your dissimilar appearance to other social media influencers.” Aaron on my influencer aesthetics. “Some people want something else, and that’s fine for them.” John Dickerson, Political Gabfest, Jan 30th, 2025. ”romantasy, which blends spicy sex scenes and romance tropes with supernatural elements, is not a fleeting trend." At which Rebecca Yarros excels. "groyperfication, "John Ganz.

“Socrates drawing at a whiteboard with a rapt audience set in ancient Athens, but the whiteboard is like a contempory whiteboard,” Midjourney, January, 2025.Socrates Didn’t WhiteboardThis week’s Software Defined Talk: “This week, we discuss the latest news about DeepSeek, how to make sense of the countless hot takes, and a review of The Nvidia Way. Plus, some thoughts on Valentine’s Day.” Take a listen, or watch the unedited recording, and subscribe if you don’t already.

Take a walk with me and ponder cheaper AI: I found some good charts for this one: "State of Enterprise Tech Spending," Battery Ventures, September, 2024. “Where's the Value in AI?" BCG, October, 2024. 🍃 Spring AI, an open source SDK for using AI. Tanzu AI Solutions and VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA. This chart in particular is helpful. It’s showing that there aren’t actually that many - hardly any!

Fun with charts: Relative to your interestsHow Cloud Ingestion Pricing Eats Your Budget - ”Essentially, yes, the cloud can be cheaper — but only if you’re using it the right way.” Microsoft and Google Are Forcing Customers to Adopt AI at a Premium Price: What Customers Need to Know - “84 million customers x $36 (the annual increase per subscription) = $3,024,000,000” Core Principles of AI Data Readiness - Maybe enterprise AI is all about getting your data into shape.