The Postmodern Shift: Generative and Agentic AI in Software Development

Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: DC 1304


Title: The Postmodern Shift: Generative and Agentic AI in Software Development

Abstract:

The past seven years have witnessed a significant revolution in AI, profoundly impacting productivity across industries. This talk will focus on the implications for software development. Neel Sundaresan and MIchael Kwok will explore how generative and agentic AI are fundamentally changing the way software systems are built, managed, and scaled. The emerging paradigm of "code as data” and “data as code" is transforming how modern systems are developed and maintained. They'll discuss how virtual agents in development teams, continuously learning software systems, specialized AI agents, and fluid development processes are blurring the boundaries between human-created and AI-built software systems. The talk will address the implications for emerging graduates and software professionals, offering insights on how they can prepare for this new era of software development.

Bios:

Neel Sundaresan, a distinguished leader in the field of Artificial Intelligence, currently serves as the General Manager of Automation and AI in IBM's software division.
Prior to this Neel was a Vice President of AI and Engineering at Microsoft. Neel has been a pioneer of bringing AI to code and pushing the boundaries of AI applications to software engineering. He has been instrumental in integrating AI technologies into software tools to bolster developer productivity and automate various facets of software engineering.
Prior to his tenure at Microsoft, Neel was the head of eBay Research and Data Labs. He introduced groundbreaking machine learning advancements, leading to innovative developments in Search, Recommender Systems, and Trust and Safety systems. He established eBay's Economics, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Computer Vision groups, integrating diverse expertise into product development and business strategy.
Neel's entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding a successful network CRM company and contributing as a research manager at IBM's Almaden Research Center. He has over 315 issued patents and has co-authored more than 125 refereed publications. He is a sought-after speaker, sharing his insights and experiences at numerous national and international conferences.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Neel is deeply invested in social impact initiatives. He founded the Inspire! Program, a mentorship and scholarship platform guiding financially disadvantaged yet academically gifted students from grade school through to professional careers. Neel also plays an active role in the MusicAsLanguage project, empowering children with autism to use music as a medium of communication. He has held the position of adjunct professor of computer science at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he frequently delivers invited lectures aimed at equipping the diverse student body for a future shaped by Artificial Intelligence.
Neel has a PhD in Computer Science from Indiana University, Bloomington, and dual master's degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from IIT Mumbai.

Michael Kwok currently serves as the Vice President for watsonx Code Assistant, and Canada Lab Director at IBM.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the technology industry, Michael is a visionary leader who demonstrates his ability to align technology innovation with business goals, creating solutions that turn complex data challenges into competitive advantage. As Vice President for watsonx Code Assistant at IBM, Michael leads a global team that harnesses generative AI and advanced automation to create enterprise-ready code faster for developers as well as IT operators. Michael also leads the IBM Canada Lab, the largest software development lab in Canada. The IBM Canada Lab supports the development of core IBM technologies and worldwide strategic missions including Data, AI, Automation, Sustainability, Security, Cloud, and IT infrastructure. He has a B.Math. and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo.