AI hype is everywhere. But what’s actually happening inside engineering teams?

In the first episode of Reality Check, Dave Nicholson speaks with Oleg Dulin about how AI is actually being deployed inside the software development lifecycle. This is not a vendor showcase. It’s a frontline discussion about productivity, platform pressure, hyperscalers, and the human implications of AI adoption.

Oleg explains why the ability for AI tools to ingest large codebases was the real unlock, how these tools are integrating into CI/CD and collaboration workflows, and why enterprises still “piloting” AI in 2026 may already be behind.
The conversation also explores:
• Pressure on SaaS vendors to become platforms
• Whether hyperscalers are innovating fast enough
• The shift from coding to architecture and systems thinking
• Organizational change and upskilling challenges
• Why AI replacing developers is the wrong narrative

Reality Check features real operators making real decisions about capital allocation, engineering velocity, and competitive advantage.

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