In this episode of Screaming in the Cloud, Corey Quinn talks with Jonathan Schneider, CEO of Moderne and author on Java microservices and automated code remediation. They explore why upgrading legacy systems is so hard, Schneider’s journey from Netflix to building large-scale code transformation tools like OpenRewrite, and how major companies like Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft use it.

They also discuss AI in software development, cutting through the hype to show where it genuinely helps, and the human and technical challenges of modernization. The conversation offers a practical look at how AI and automation can boost productivity without replacing the need for expert oversight.

Show Highlights

(2:07) Book Writing and the Pain of Documentation

(4:03) Why Software Modernization Is So Hard

(6:53) Automating Software Modernization at Netflix

(8:07) Culture and Modernization: Netflix vs. Google vs. JP Morgan

(10:40) Social Engineering Problems in Software Modernization

(13:20) The Geometric Explosion of Software Complexity

(17:57) The Foundation for LLMs in Software Modernization

(21:16) AI Coding Assistants: Confidence, Fallibility, and Collaboration

(22:37) The Python 2 to 3 Migration: Lessons for Modernization

(27:56) The Human Element: Responsibility, Skepticism, and the Future of Work

Links

1. Wiz Cloud Security Health Scan: https://www.wiz.io/crying-out-cloud
2. Modern (Jonathan Schneider's company): https://modern.ai
3. LinkedIn (Jonathan Schneider): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschneider/

On this episode of Screaming in the Cloud, Corey Quinn talks with Simon Willison, founder of Datasette and creator of LLM CLI about AI’s realities versus the hype. They dive into Simon’s “lethal trifecta” of AI security risks, his prediction of a major breach within six months, and real-world use cases of his open source tools, from investigative journalism to OSINT sleuthing. Simon shares grounded insights on coding with AI, the real environmental impact, AGI skepticism, and why human expertise still matters. A candid, hype-free take from someone who truly knows the space.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Security Concerns
02:32 Conversations and Kindness
04:56 Niche Museums and Collecting
06:52 Blogging as a Superpower
08:01 Challenges of Writing and AI
15:08 Unique Use Cases of Dataset
19:33 The Evolution of Open Source
21:09 Security Vulnerabilities in AI
32:18 Future of AI and AGI Concerns
37:10 Learning Programming with AI
39:12 Vibe Coding and Its Risks
41:49 Environmental Impact of AI
46:34 AI in Legal and Creative Fields
54:20 Voice AI and Ethical Concerns
01:00:07 Monetizing Content Creatively

Links:

• Simon Willison’s Blog
• Datasette Project
• LLM command-line tool and Python library
• Niche Museums
• GitHub MCP prompt injection example
• Highlights from the Claude 4 system prompt
• AI energy usage tag
• AI assisted search-based research actually works now
• POSSE: Publish on your own site, syndicate elsewhere
• Bellingcat
• Lawyer cites fake cases invented by ChatGPT, judge is not amused (May 2023)
• AI hallucination cases database
• Sponsor Simon to get his monthly summary newsletter
• https://simonwillison.net/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonwillison
• https://datasette.io/

In this deep-dive episode, Corey Quinn and Ed Zitron break down the complex and often murky world of AI and the tech giants fueling today’s rapid innovation. From Nvidia’s soaring valuations to OpenAI’s shaky finances and Microsoft’s high-stakes gambles, they reveal the cracks hidden beneath all the hype.

They navigate the tangled web of corporate finance, big investments, and what could happen if the AI boom falters whether it reshapes the economy or crashes spectacularly.

With sharp takes on the crossroads of AI, crypto hype, SaaS economics, and enterprise software, Cory and Ed cut through the noise to separate myth from reality. They ask: Is today’s tech gold rush truly transformative, or just another bubble pumped up by money, media, and wishful thinking?

If you’re into tech or investing, this episode challenges you to look past the buzzwords and understand the real forces shaping the future of technology.

Highlights
(00:00) Introduction and Initial Thoughts on AI
(00:53) AI Skepticism and Financial Realities
(03:01) Economic Analysis of AI Companies
(07:44) Microsoft and OpenAI: A Complex Relationship
(11:23) The Broader AI Market and Its Challenges
(16:49) Comparing AI to Other Technological Innovations
(34:45) The Salesforce AI Buzzword Craze
(35:09) The Disconnect Between Business Press and Valuations
(36:37) Google's AI Economics and TPU Insights
(39:34) Meta's Midlife Crisis and AI Investments
(47:11) The Nvidia GPU Dependency
(58:40) OpenAI's Financial Struggles

About Ed Zitron
Ed Zitron is the CEO of EZPR, a national public relations agency focused on technology and business. He writes the popular tech and culture newsletter Where’s Your Ed At and is the author of two books: This Is How You Pitch: How To Kick Ass In Your First Years of PR and Fire Your Publicist. Ed has been named one of Insider’s Top 50 Best Public Relations People in Tech four times.

Links:

• Where's your ed at
• https://www.ezpr.com/about-us
• Better off Line
• Snark bot https://bsky.app/profile/aws-snarkbot.lastweekinaws.com