Russell Kaplan

Russell Kaplan, ex-Tesla ML engineer and builder of autonomous AI agents. Scott Wu, Cognition CEO and three-time IOI gold medalist who led engineering at Addepar. They discuss Devin becoming a top code contributor. They explain engineers using English prompts and agent fleets. They explore software abundance, massive productivity gains, modernizing legacy and government systems, and AI unlocking a wave of small‑business innovation.

Joining the discussion is Russell Kaplan, President of Cognition AI, who is pioneering the future of software engineering with Devin, an autonomous AI software engineer. Kaplan explores the evolution of AI agents, highlighting how they can complete complex tasks autonomously. He shares insights on enhancing collaboration between human engineers and AI, and the potential for broader software creation by non-coders. Kaplan also discusses the constraints of energy and compute resources as pivotal challenges for scaling AI technologies.

Ali Partovi, an investor and startup incubator founder, and Russell Kaplan, president of Cognition, dive into the complexities of OpenAI's recent $200 million deal with the Defense Department, raising questions about its impact on their partnership with Microsoft. They discuss the evolving tech landscape where AI's influence shapes job roles and mentorship dynamics. The conversation also highlights the emergence of tools like Devon, which redefine software engineering, emphasizing how these advancements might transform workflows and the future of tech talent.