Modern collaboration tools have not solved the decades-old problem of project failures caused by poor communication.
A simple request like 'add numbers' reveals multiple implementation paths, highlighting the inherent ambiguity developers face.
Communication fails because each person constructs a different reality from the same words based on their unique background and context.
Improve communication through deliberate practice in workshops, structured checkpoints like checklists, and using AI as a sparring partner.
To get precise results from ambiguous generative AI, developers have learned to provide rich, specific context, a lesson directly applicable to human interaction.
AI's 'plan mode' shows the value of rephrasing requirements and outlining steps before execution to ensure alignment and reduce costly rework.
Both humans and AI construct meaning from context, but AI requires explicit context for every interaction while humans often rely on unstated shared history.
Apply lessons from AI interactions by starting with purpose, focusing on the 'why', paraphrasing, discussing assumptions, and defining clear next steps.
Formalize good communication by creating protocols, like mandatory rephrasing, to remove ambiguity and fear, mirroring safety-critical fields like aviation.
Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.