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

Five Things in Tech that Matter Now - WeAreDevelopers World Congress 2026 Closing Keynote

Christian Heilmann

The era of writing boilerplate code is dead. To lead the AI revolution, developers must champion sustainability, reject flawed productivity metrics, and embrace the joy of missing out.

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#1 about 3 min

Identifying the true value of modern software developers

Reevaluating the focus on writing raw code reveals that developers primarily exist to solve essential problems.

#2 about 4 min

Comparing the AI boom to the dot-com bubble

The pervasive societal and economic impact of AI contrasts sharply with the isolated fallout of the dot-com crash.

#3 about 2 min

Transitioning from passive users to active AI shapers

Developers must actively shape generative capabilities to ensure these tools solve meaningful problems and provide real value.

#4 about 2 min

Addressing the sustainability and power consumption of AI

The immense energy demands of AI data centers require innovative engineering solutions to manage emerging grid overload.

#5 about 1 min

Shifting developer performance metrics to token usage

Replacing traditional output metrics with prompt token expenditure tracks efficiency poorly and actively incentivizes wasteful generation.

#6 about 1 min

Focusing AI tools on building meaningful solutions

Using powerful AI capabilities to streamline repetitive tasks creates significantly more value than building redundant applications.

#7 about 2 min

Maintaining software craftsmanship alongside AI assistance

Preserving the craft of coding is essential for junior engineers to learn fundamentals and write efficient software.

#8 about 2 min

Hosting open models and owning your developer infrastructure

Harnessing local hardware and open-source models allows engineering teams to directly own their infrastructure and compute power.

#9 about 2 min

Prioritizing mental health and human connection

Stepping away from intense digital focus to foster genuine relationships with colleagues helps developers combat career burnout.

#10 about 1 min

Embracing creativity by building experimental projects

Playing independently with new technologies to build unnecessary but fun projects fosters creativity and reinvigorates coding passion.

#11 about 4 min

Finding the joy of missing out and disconnecting

Establishing strict boundaries around work schedules and minimizing constant technological engagement effectively preserves long-term personal well-being.

Matching moments

1:31 min

Addressing developer burnout and the impact of artificial intelligence

Pauline Pagliaro Pauline Pagliaro · WWC 2025

3:03 min

Addressing developer burnout and the perceived value of AI

Loredana Crisan Loredana Crisan +3 · WWC Europe 2026

2:23 min

The transforming role of developers in the AI era

Mateusz Gren Mateusz Gren +1 · WWC Europe 2026

1:14 min

Open questions regarding the future role of software developers

Julia Wilson Julia Wilson +1 · WWC 2025

1:21 min

Using artificial intelligence to reimagine developer experience

Alexander Trusheim Alexander Trusheim +1 · WWC 2025

5:16 min

Motivations for adopting AI to enhance developer productivity

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