Why AI Made Software Engineers More Human

"AI scribes are just a feature. The record of clinical judgment is the moat." I talked with Kush Shah, founder and CEO of Noted Dent, on Startup Hustle this week. Noted Dent uses AI to handle clinical documentation for dentists, so practitioners aren't stuck writing notes at 11pm or on the weekend, and so they're covered when the auditors and health funds come knocking. Here's what you'll get out of it: ⚡ Why vibe coding gets you to an MVP and no further, and why Kush deleted 8,000 lines of AI-generated code in three months ⚡ Why the job of a software engineer has changed, and how AI has actually made it more human ⚡ Why demand, not product, is the hardest thing in any business, even eight years in ⚡ Why startups are the best place for young engineers to learn, and why job-title silos hold them back ⚡ What actually makes the leap to CEO so hard when you come from a technical background If you're a technical founder, an engineer eyeing your next move, or anyone building in a regulated space, this one is worth your time. Listen to the Startup Hustle podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts! ## **⏱️ Episode Breakdown** 01:06 Introduction and Anthony Jackson's background 02:47 Is software development dead again? 03:48 The impact of AI on coding and human judgment 04:41 The importance of responsibility in software development 06:33 The challenge of product management and customer feedback 10:52 Transitioning from individual contributor to manager 12:00 Building effective teams and leadership culture 15:14 Anthony Jackson's leadership OS book and approach 19:00 The significance of company and team culture 21:41 The impact of good and bad managers 22:06 Anthony Jackson's newsletter and coaching 23:48 Connecting software developers with customers 25:40 Empathy for users and understanding their experience 29:06 Where to find Anthony Jackson's resources and books ## **Links & Resources** Connect with Kush Shah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kush-shah-kush/ Noted Dent - https://noteddent.com/ **What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025** Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint **Full Scale** – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.