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Human After All: Thriving (Not Just Surviving) in the Age of AI

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Enterprise Made Simple (EMS)
About this event

What to expect

Developers working in the AI era face a unique challenge: how do you stay relevant, creative, and fulfilled when automation tools are reshaping the entire profession? This Middlesbrough meetup tackles that question head-on with two compelling talks that explore both the human side of software development and the practical realities of working alongside AI tools.

Featured Speakers

Mike Dent (Head of Digital Solutions, Waterstons) delivers "Your Soul Is Not Replaceable – Permission to Be a Happy, Human Developer in an AI‑Obsessed World." His talk cuts through the AI hype to remind developers that creativity, empathy, and curiosity remain irreplaceable. Expect a grounded, energising perspective on protecting your craft and rediscovering joy in software development when everyone else seems focused on the next automation breakthrough.

Andrew Buckingham (Principal Architect, Government Office for Science) offers "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My AI Overlords" — a playfully pragmatic take on making peace with AI tools. Drawing on his experience in government technology, Andrew challenges common anxieties about automation and demonstrates how developers can build smarter, more sustainable engineering practices by embracing rather than resisting these new capabilities.

What Makes This Event Different

Rather than choosing between AI enthusiasm or resistance, this meetup presents two complementary viewpoints in one evening. You'll explore both protecting your humanity in software development and welcoming AI as a powerful ally — creating a balanced, insightful look at what it actually means to be a modern developer.

Whether you're excited about AI possibilities, concerned about your career trajectory, feeling overwhelmed by constant change, or simply curious about how automation is reshaping software engineering, you'll gain practical perspectives from practitioners working at the intersection of human creativity and machine capability.

Hosted and sponsored by Enterprise Made Simple (EMS), this event brings together Teesside's tech community for honest conversation about developer experience, career sustainability, and finding your place in an AI-saturated industry. This is a cross-posted event also appearing on Tech on the Tees — you can register through either community page.

[Join this Middlesbrough meetup](https://www.meetup.com/tech-on-the-tyne/events/314072

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