AI is everywhere in today’s world. It’s embedded into tools, workflows, and platforms and yet according to MIT, 95% of generative AI pilots are failing (https://fortune.com/2025/08/18/mit-report-95-percent-generative-ai-pilots-at-companies-failing-cfo/) How often is AI genuinely solving problems, or is it just the latest layer of complexity wrapped in hype?

In this technical session, Grant Fritchey, and Kellyn Gorman take a practical, no-nonsense look at AI as what it really is to the technologist today: another tool in the engineering toolbox.

Drawing from real-world experience, they explore how AI can be used to improve productivity, reduce cognitive load, and streamline everyday tasks without replacing the people who really understand the systems.

This session focuses on efficient, responsible use of AI in the modern workplace, highlighting where AI adds measurable value and where it doesn’t. You’ll learn how to think critically about AI features, how to avoid over-automation, and how to use AI to amplify expertise rather than dilute it. Grant and Kellyn will also address common fears around job displacement and explain why AI succeeds best in the real world when paired with human judgment, context, and accountability.

This session is designed for engineers, DBAs, and technical leaders who want clarity vs. hype on how AI fits into real environments today.