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World Congress 2026 Europe • Jul 10, 2026 • Session details

Fireside Chat - In conversation with Werner Vogels, CTO of Amazon.com

Werner Vogels , Thomas Pamminger

Werner Vogels claims rapid AI code generation creates a dangerous new verification debt. Discover how to survive the agentic era by evolving into a systems-thinking Renaissance developer.

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#1 about 3 min

Invisible work and the reality of software engineering

How crucial backend systems operate unnoticed until they fail loudly.

#2 about 4 min

Developer fears and the Renaissance developer concept

Why developers must rely on natural curiosity and continuous learning rather than fearing AI replacement.

#3 about 3 min

Systems thinking and the T-shaped developer model

The importance of collaboration, clear communication, and maintaining broad architectural knowledge alongside deep expertise.

#4 about 3 min

Autonomous teams and evolving the PRFAQ process

How rapid AI prototyping shifts the traditional approach to determining customer experience and required documentation.

#5 about 2 min

Managing AI speed and the rise of verification debt

How machine-generated code outpaces human review rates and demands strategic budgeting for human-in-the-loop verification.

#6 about 2 min

Applying traditional quorum systems to LLM reliability

Using multi-model comparisons to prevent hallucinations, functioning similarly to redundant aviation control systems.

#7 about 4 min

Navigating developer bottlenecks and human accountability

Why engineers must maintain responsibility for software outputs despite the speed or autonomy of AI agents.

#8 about 4 min

Overcoming AI overwhelm and matching model size to purpose

How developers can manage the influx of new tools by strategically selecting smaller models for specific tasks.

#9 about 3 min

Mitigating data bias and explaining AI decisions

Why understanding training inputs and outputs is vital for maintaining user trust and avoiding systemic discrimination.

#10 about 2 min

Building culturally aware LLMs for global audiences

How regional models and localized training data ensure that AI responses align with specific cultural nuances.

#11 about 3 min

The AI research and development gap across regions

The impact of aggressive American R&D investments on global technology competition and European market strategy.

#12 about 3 min

How junior developers can leverage AI for learning

Using AI agents to decode legacy systems enables faster onboarding and deeper understanding for new engineers.

#13 about 2 min

Finding joy and taking pride in engineering work

Embracing the creative nature of building systems and celebrating the discovery of complex bugs in modern software.

Matching moments

1:31 min

Addressing developer burnout and the impact of artificial intelligence

Pauline Pagliaro Pauline Pagliaro · World Congress 2025

2:23 min

The transforming role of developers in the AI era

Mateusz Gren Mateusz Gren +1 · World Congress 2026 Europe

5:18 min

Addressing psychological safety and ethical risks of AI adoption

Vera Slavnić Vera Slavnić · Europe 2026 Virtual

1:44 min

Summarizing developer experience and artificial intelligence companions

Robert Hoffmann Robert Hoffmann +1 · LIVE

1:21 min

Using artificial intelligence to reimagine developer experience

Alexander Trusheim Alexander Trusheim +1 · World Congress 2025

1:55 min

Shifting developer workloads and realistic AI productivity gains

Chris Heilmann +2 · LIVE

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