undefined

Simon Willison

Independent software developer, blogger, and prominent voice on AI's impact on software engineering. Co-creator of Django and creator of Datasette, known for writing extensively about coding agents, prompt injection, and AI-assisted development.

Top 10 podcasts with Simon Willison

Ranked by the Snipd community
undefined
4,479 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 1h 40min

An AI state of the union: We’ve passed the inflection point, dark factories are coming, and automation timelines | Simon Willison

Simon Willison, Django co-creator and AI-focused developer-blogger, maps where AI coding is headed. He digs into the inflection point for coding agents, the rise of dark factories, and why mid-career engineers may feel the squeeze first. They also explore AI-fueled mental overload, phone-first coding, prompt injection risks, and the oddly famous pelican-on-a-bicycle benchmark.
undefined
390 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 1h 39min

Predictions 2026!!

In this engaging discussion, Simon Willison, a web developer known for his advocacy of open-source and AI, predicts that skepticism about AI-generated code will rapidly fade. Steve Klabnik, a seasoned software developer, foresees the ongoing challenges of orchestrating multiple AI agents. Ian Grunert offers insights on consumer trends in devices, including rising demand for Waymo and cautious expectations for new AI products. They all explore the potential impact of AI on society and how it may reshape various industries by 2026.
undefined
380 snips
Sep 25, 2024 • 1h 13min

AI tools for software engineers, but without the hype – with Simon Willison (co-creator of Django)

Simon Willison, co-creator of Django and expert in large language models, dives into the world of AI tools for developers. He shares his initial experiments with coding tools like GPT-3 and ChatGPT, emphasizing practicality over hype. Simon discusses misconceptions around AI, the role of fine-tuning, and the innovative concept of Retrieval Augmented Generation. He also explores ethical dilemmas in software engineering, the evolution of coding tools, and the transformative potential of generative AI, making it clear that mastering these technologies is key to staying relevant in the field.
undefined
351 snips
Sep 16, 2024 • 1h 14min

Supercharging Developer Productivity with ChatGPT and Claude with Simon Willison - #701

In this discussion, Simon Willison, an independent researcher and creator of Datasette, shares insightful strategies for boosting developer productivity with large language models like ChatGPT and Claude. He reveals how he codes while walking his dog and emphasizes effective prompting and debugging techniques. The conversation dives into the transformative impact of AI on data analysis, the potential of open-source models, and innovative web scraping tools. Listen as he navigates the evolving capabilities and challenges of AI in today's tech landscape!
undefined
213 snips
Jan 24, 2025 • 1h 22min

Simon Willison: Using LLMs for Python Development

Simon Willison, a prominent web developer known for his projects like Datasette, dives into the world of large language models (LLMs) for Python development. He shares effective prompting techniques and discusses the best models for coding. Simon compares tools and highlights his open-source journey, noting how blogging has influenced his career. He also addresses the potential pitfalls of AI, urging critical evaluation of its outputs. Expect insights on coding tools, ethical implications of tech, and a whimsical look at AI's creative quirks.
undefined
120 snips
Jul 10, 2023 • 2h 4min

Code Interpreter == GPT 4.5 (w/ Simon Willison, Alex Volkov, Aravind Srinivas, Alex Graveley, et al.)

In this engaging discussion, experienced developer Simon Willison, AI researcher Alex Volkov, and Perplexity founder Aravind Srinivas explore the groundbreaking capabilities of the new Code Interpreter. They reveal its potential for data analysis, video editing, and refactoring tasks while addressing significant limitations and security concerns. The conversation highlights exciting applications, including sentiment analysis and game development feedback, showcasing how AI tools can optimize coding efficiency and enhance user creativity in programming.
undefined
91 snips
Sep 10, 2024 • 1h 56min

LLMs are like your weird, over-confident intern | Simon Willison (Datasette)

Simon Willison, co-creator of Django and Datasette, shares insights on navigating the world of LLMs. He compares LLMs to a quirky intern and discusses their evolution, emphasizing the importance of blogging for accountability. Simon dives into productive use of GitHub issues for documentation, and the nuances of prompt engineering. He also reflects on how LLMs can foster ambition in developers while addressing their limitations. Finally, he shares the exciting journey of developing a startup with his partner, blending personal and professional life.
undefined
76 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 5min

AI's Security Crisis: Why Your Assistant Might Betray You

Simon Willison, an independent open-source developer and founder of Datasette, shares his insights on AI's security landscape. He warns of an imminent cybersecurity breach linked to AI vulnerabilities, particularly prompt injection risks. Simon discusses the importance of human expertise amidst rising AI capabilities, the environmental impacts of AI, and innovative applications of open-source tools in journalism. His candid perspective cuts through the hype, highlighting the critical balance between advancement and ethical implications.
undefined
70 snips
May 5, 2026 • 53min

Ep. #9, The AI Coding Paradigm Shift with Simon Willison

Simon Willison, veteran web developer and Django co-creator who now covers AI and LLM tooling. He discusses the 2025 tipping point when models mastered code, the shift from vibe coding to agentic engineering, how coding agents compress delivery and reshape workflows, and the trust, security, and hiring tradeoffs that follow.
undefined
69 snips
Nov 8, 2023 • 2h 23min

AGI is Being Achieved Incrementally (OpenAI DevDay w/ Simon Willison, Alex Volkov, Jim Fan, Raza Habib, Shreya Rajpal, Rahul Ligma, et al)

Joining the conversation are Simon Willison, a software engineer known for his expertise in Python, and Alex Volkov, an AI researcher from Weights & Biases. They delve into the latest from OpenAI’s DevDay, breaking down the new features like GPT-4 Turbo and stateful APIs. Raza Habib discusses the real-world implications of foundation models, while Surya Dantuluri shares insights on evolving chatbot functionalities. Reid Robinson touches on Zapier's AI integration, and the group examines innovative applications and the future of multimodal capabilities in AI.

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app