Human agency is the force-multiplier for AI | Scott Hanselman, Microsoft

Leading the Shift: AI innovation talks with Microsoft Azure

Scott Hanselman, VP of Developer Community at Microsoft, joins the pod to offer his unique perspective on the evolution of technology, share what he heard from developers at Microsoft Build 2025, and discuss the critical role of human agency in a world of AI agents. Scott and Susan explore some of the challenges and opportunities presented by AI-powered automation, emphasizing the importance of AI guided by human decision-making, creativity, and ethical judgement. They contemplate what happens when something breaks and reflect on why context and understanding the deep stack are key to being able to fix it. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full experience as Scott brings in artifacts for some “show and tell” moments.

Watch this episode on YouTube >⁠

Guest: ⁠Scott Hanselman⁠ | VP of Developer Community, Microsoft

Related: ⁠Scott and Mark Learn To... Podcast⁠ | ⁠Hanselman.com

Related: Redefining the Developer Experience with AI and DevOps

Get more ⁠innovation insights⁠ from ⁠Microsoft Azure⁠.

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Host: ⁠Susan Etlinger⁠

The Leading the Shift podcast is a place for experts to share their insights and opinions. As students of the future of technology, Microsoft values inputs from a diverse set of voices. That said, the opinions and findings of our guests are their own and they may not necessarily reflect Microsoft's own research or positions.

บท

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Scott's background and early tech days (00:03:49)

3. Microsoft Build 2025 and how developers are feeling (00:07:36)

4. AI and human agency (00:11:45)

5. Curiosity and innovation (00:15:37)

6. Empathy and practical solutions (00:19:03)

7. Vibe coding and craftsmanship (00:23:36)

8. Advice for leaders and conclusion (00:29:43)