Modern Engineering in an AI-driven World
From Go Slow to Grow Fast by Mercury Fund
February 12, 2026 · 1h 5m · Season 1 · Episode 23
About this episode
This episode discusses the evolution of modern engineering in the context of AI, featuring insights from industry leaders.
Live from Software Day at The Ion, this episode brings together founders, engineers, and investors for a dynamic conversation on how modern engineering is evolving in the era of AI. Mercury Fund Co-Founder Dan Watkins moderates a panel featuring Matt Cohen of Zen Cohen and Colin Hendricks of Omniscience. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping engineering paradigms, team structures, and traditional talent strategies as it becomes an essential tool for building and scaling software companies. This conversation goes beyond tools and automation — it highlights the enduring importance of mentorship, community, and human-centered product thinking in building durable companies. 🎧 Episode Highlights • 06:19 – Introduction to the panel and modern engineering in an AI-driven world • 11:33 – How AI is changing the day-to-day work of software engineers • 20:22 – Why testing, clean code, and evaluation matter more than ever • 35:11 – How AI reshapes product teams and scaling strategies • 46:36 – Live audience Q&A on AI use cases, limitations, and real-world applications 🔑 Key Takeaways • AI is transforming how software is built, but strong engineering fundamentals remain critical…
People in this episode
Host: Dan Watkins
Guests: Matt Cohen, Colin Hendricks
Topics covered
- AI in engineering
- software development
- team structures
- mentorship
- human-centered product thinking
Keywords
- AI
- software engineering
- clean code
- testing
- product teams
- scaling strategies
- mentorship
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Zen Cohen, Omniscience
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