Another Crazy Day in AI: Why Smart Coders Resist Progress
- Wowza Team
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
Weekend mode: almost on. But first... some AI heat.
Veteran coder Thomas Ptacek has had enough of AI skepticism—his viral essay says it plainly: ignore AI in software development at your own risk. The AI Daily Brief host breaks it down for you.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman’s latest blog post reads like a dispatch from the near future. He says the AI takeoff isn’t coming—it’s already here.
And if your weekend plans include turning a cat video into a noir thriller, Meta’s new generative video tool is now live.
Here's another crazy day in AI:
The stubborn programmer dilemma
Altman on AI, 2030s and beyond
AI video edits go mainstream with Meta
Some AI tools to try out
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Why Coding Skeptics Are Missing Out
Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)
Are you falling behind simply because you’re coding the ‘old’ way?
In a recent episode of The AI Daily Brief, host Nathaniel Whittemore dives into a viral essay that’s sparking debate across the developer world: “My AI Skeptic Friends Are All Nuts” by longtime software engineer Thomas Ptacek. With humor, urgency, and sharp insight, Ptacek calls out the growing gap between those who still rely on traditional coding workflows and those already embracing AI agents as collaborators—not just tools.
This isn’t about hypothetical futures or AGI. Ptacek stays grounded in what’s happening now: AI coding agents are here, and they’re already doing real work—navigating codebases, testing, debugging, and delivering pull requests—while many developers still argue about whether these tools are “ready.” The reality? Serious developers are moving faster, solving more, and doing less of the boring stuff.
The reality check:
Modern AI agents operate like junior developers - They explore repositories, create files, run builds and tests, then iterate on failures until code compiles and passes all checks
Repetitive work disappears - Tasks like writing boilerplate, managing dependencies, looking up documentation, and refactoring tests now happen automatically while developers tackle bigger challenges
Error correction is built-in - When agents write broken code, they catch their own compilation errors and test failures, then fix the problems without human intervention
Human judgment remains critical - Developers still review all generated code, make architectural decisions, and bear final responsibility for everything that goes into production
Language compatibility matters - Some programming languages like Go work seamlessly with AI tools, while others like Rust present ongoing challenges that affect user experience
Adoption creates competitive gaps - Teams using these tools report substantial productivity improvements, especially among newer developers who lack preconceptions about "proper" coding methods
Work becomes more strategic - Many developers now delegate routine tasks to agents, focus on higher-level problems, then review and refine the automated work
Ptacek's perspective carries weight because he's been writing production code for nearly three decades and has witnessed multiple technology transitions. He doesn't claim AI will solve every programming problem or replace human creativity, but he questions why intelligent people would reject tools that clearly improve day-to-day productivity. The essay addresses familiar objections about code quality, intellectual property concerns, and the fear that automated assistance somehow diminishes the craft of programming.
The discussion reveals something fascinating about professional adaptation. While heated debates continue about AI's role in software development, a growing number of developers have quietly integrated these tools into their workflows and are experiencing real benefits. Ptacek observes that younger programmers, in particular, approach AI assistance without the baggage of older debates and are gaining measurable advantages over their more cautious colleagues.
Perhaps most importantly, this conversation highlights the difference between theoretical concerns and practical experience. Ptacek suggests that many current objections to AI-assisted coding stem from limited exposure to modern tools rather than informed evaluation of their capabilities. He encourages developers to experiment with available options before forming definitive opinions, arguing that firsthand experience provides a much better foundation for decision-making than assumptions based on outdated information or secondhand reports.
Watch the podcast on YouTube here.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
Altman on AI, 2030s and Beyond
/Sam Altman, on his personal blog
In a sweeping blog post, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reflects on humanity’s accelerating path into the age of superintelligence. He argues that we’ve already passed the event horizon of AI development, with systems like ChatGPT transforming how people work, create, and solve problems. Looking ahead, Altman envisions the 2030s as a time when intelligence and energy become “wildly abundant,” with AI accelerating scientific discovery, reshaping labor, and fueling entirely new industries. While emphasizing the need to solve alignment and distribution challenges, he expresses confidence that society will adapt—one wonder at a time.
Read more here.
AI Video Edits Go Mainstream With Meta
/Meta Newsroom
Meta just released a generative AI video editing feature across its Meta AI app, website, and Edits app, allowing users to transform short videos with preset prompts. From changing your outfit to adding visual effects like comic book styles or dreamy sparkles, users can now create stylized, shareable content without traditional editing skills. The tool supports 10-second video transformations and integrates directly with Facebook and Instagram for easy sharing. It’s part of Meta’s bigger push into AI-powered creativity, building on its past breakthroughs with Movie Gen and Llama models.
Read more here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
EXCITING NEWS:
The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is on LinkedIn!!!
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content: As part of our commitment to exploring new technologies, we used AI to help curate and refine our newsletters. This enriches our content and keeps us at the forefront of digital innovation, ensuring you stay informed with the latest trends and developments.
Comments