SED News is a monthly podcast from Software Engineering Daily hosted by Gregor Vand and Sean Falconer, discussing the major developments in software engineering, Silicon Valley, and the tech industry.
This episode covers Starlink’s rapid implementation of free in-flight high-speed internet, Tesla’s transition from Autopilot to full self-driving capabilities, and Apple’s reported move to use Google’s Gemini models to power Siri. They also examine Meta’s $2B acquisition of Manus, challenges faced by Waymo in scaling autonomous vehicles, and the industry competition arising from Google’s custom AI hardware advances.
Gregor and Sean delve into the current tech job market, discussing OpenAI’s choice to remove vesting cliffs, the intensifying competition for top AI talent, and insights from recent layoffs about the future of software engineering. They explore the influence of AI coding tools on the roles of junior versus senior engineers, the enduring importance of core fundamentals, and focus areas for developers as 2026 approaches.
They conclude by highlighting intriguing threads from Hacker News, including Doom running on wireless earbuds, the lasting allure of over-engineered side projects, and the significance of hacking for fun in an era dominated by large-scale AI initiatives.
Gregor Vand is a technologist focused on security, having served as CTO in cybersecurity, cyber insurance, and software engineering firms. He resides in Singapore and can be found via his profile at vand.hk or LinkedIn.
Sean is an academic, startup founder, and former Googler. His publications cover topics ranging from AI to quantum computing. Currently, Sean serves as an AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent, focusing on AI strategy and thought leadership. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn.
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