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For most of my career, I thought about software the same way many founders still do today. Software was a tool. People were the ones doing the work. If you wanted to move faster, you would hire more people. If you wanted better results, you would hire more experienced people. Software helped, but it never replaced the need for a team.

Over time, that belief stopped being true.

After using many AI tools inside my company, I reached a clear conclusion. The best way to work with AI, and AI agents in particular, is to treat it like an employee. Not a tool. Not an assistant. An actual worker responsible for outcomes.

Once you adopt this mindset, everything changes.

The 10x engineer has been a meme in tech for more than a decade. People mock the idea and say, “No one can do the work of ten people.” The phrase gets thrown around as an exaggeration, a way to describe mythical geniuses who type faster, code cleaner, and never sleep. But that’s not what it really means.

The 10x engineer exists not because they’re magical, but because most engineers are mediocre.

As I’ve been evaluating the trends in AI and how they might apply to my work, I’ve come to the conclusion that AI will not be a complete replacement for humans, but will instead become the worker bees to the human queen bee that manages them. The real work behind AI is still human. The people who get the most out of AI won’t be those who automate everything and walk away—they’ll be the ones who take full ownership of how AI is integrated, supervised, and evolved within their organizations.

Some of the most well-known venture capital firms in the world—Lightspeed, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and General Catalyst—have made a quiet yet fundamental change to how they operate. They’ve restructured themselves as Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). On paper, that sounds like a minor regulatory update. In practice, it’s a clear sign that the old rules of venture capital no longer work the way they used to.

For decades, venture capital followed a predictable model. Raise a fund, invest in early-stage startups, help them scale, and exit through an IPO or acquisition within about ten years. But over the past decade, everything about that model has been stretched to the point of breaking. And these RIA conversions are the strongest signal yet that some of the world’s most astute investors are taking action to stay ahead.

In recent months, the United States has entered a new era of economic uncertainty driven by shifting tariff policies. From broad import levies to unpredictable changes in trade agreements, the tariff landscape is creating ripple effects far beyond global trade. These changes are beginning to reshape consumer expectations in ways brands cannot afford to ignore.

There comes a moment when you have to take a gamble. A risk. You know the feeling. It starts as a quiet whisper, a subtle pull toward something bigger, something uncertain. At first, you try to ignore it. It is easier to stick with what is comfortable, what is known. But the voice does not go away. It lingers, nudging you, reminding you that there is more out there waiting for you.

Stepping outside our comfort zones and taking a risk can often lead to incredible growth and unexpected opportunities. While playing it safe might feel secure, it often limits our potential and keeps us from discovering our true capabilities.

“You’ll never be old and wise if you’re never young and crazy.”

This saying captures the essence of living a fulfilling life and achieving greatness. It reminds us that the path to wisdom and success is often paved with bold decisions, daring adventures, and sometimes, a little bit of craziness. This philosophy is as relevant to our careers as it is to our personal lives.

In a world that often dictates our paths, it’s easy to find ourselves trapped in the expectations and norms set by others. Yet, Steve Jobs, in his iconic commencement speech at Stanford University, distilled a powerful truth that resonates deeply: our time is finite, and living a life dictated by others robs us of our true potential and fulfillment. This wisdom is particularly poignant when it comes to finding our career purpose. 

Regarding groundbreaking innovations, industries like entertainment, finance, and e-commerce usually steal the limelight. However, a quieter yet equally potent transformation is unfolding in an unexpected arena: the field services sector. At the heart of this change is Artificial Intelligence (AI), a technology that’s infusing new life into old practices, leading to improved efficiency and customer delight. Let’s embark on a detailed exploration of the myriad ways AI is reshaping the world of field services.