Modern Web

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson get real about the current state of AI in software development. They talk about what’s working, what’s frustrating, and why so much of the conversation around AI feels repetitive or disconnected from reality. They explore how AI is actually being used day to day—and where it still falls short. They also discuss the risks of relying too heavily on AI, especially for junior devs, and why understanding fundamentals still matters. Keypoints from this episode:- AI fatigue is setting in among developers, with many eager to move beyond hype and explore tools that solve real problems and deliver everyday value.- Danny built a conversational AI agent named Nexie, trained specifically on Next.js and Vercel documentation, showing how personalized agents can provide focused, meaningful assistance.- Over-relying on AI can backfire for junior developers. Using it to generate code without understanding the underlying logic undermines learning and growth.