Head of Claude Code: What happens after coding is solved | Boris Cherny | Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth

The discussion centers on the transformative impact of AI, particularly Claude Code, on software engineering and beyond. Boris Cherny, head of Claude Code at Anthropic, shares insights on how AI is not just assisting but increasingly authoring code, with some developers now relying entirely on AI for code generation. He notes that Claude Code is starting to generate ideas for bug fixes and new features by analyzing user feedback and telemetry. Cherny also touches on the broader implications of AI, such as its potential to democratize software creation and its expanding role in project management and everyday tasks. He draws parallels to the printing press revolution, envisioning a future where coding becomes accessible to everyone. The conversation also addresses the importance of safety and alignment in AI development.

Outlines

Part 1: Introduction, Mission, and Growth

Part 2: Product Genesis and Development

Part 3: Engineering Culture and Strategy

Part 4: Societal Impact and Future Skills

Part 5: Innovation and Safety Frameworks

Part 6: Personal Background and Building Tips

Part 7: Recommendations and Closing

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Head of Claude Code: What happens after coding is solved | Boris Cherny

Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth

Part 1: Introduction, Mission, and Growth

00:00The Impact of Claude Code: Transforming Software Engineering and Anthropic's Growth

The Impact of Claude Code: Transforming Software Engineering and Anthropic's Growth

03:49Boris Cherny's Brief Departure and Return to Anthropic: Driven by Mission

Boris Cherny's Brief Departure and Return to Anthropic: Driven by Mission

05:35Claude Code's Explosive Growth: 4% of GitHub Commits and Accelerating

Claude Code's Explosive Growth: 4% of GitHub Commits and Accelerating

Part 2: Product Genesis and Development

08:39From Terminal Hack to Industry Hit: The Unexpected Journey of Claude Code

From Terminal Hack to Industry Hit: The Unexpected Journey of Claude Code

13:29Exponential Growth and the Future of Software Development with Claude

Exponential Growth and the Future of Software Development with Claude

18:16Claude as a Product Manager: AI-Driven Insights and Increased Engineering Productivity

Claude as a Product Manager: AI-Driven Insights and Increased Engineering Productivity

22:25Overcoming the Old Way of Thinking: Claude Solving Memory Leaks and Team Principles

Overcoming the Old Way of Thinking: Claude Solving Memory Leaks and Team Principles

Part 3: Engineering Culture and Strategy

25:30Empowering Engineers: Token Budgets, Innovation, and the Future of AI Costs

Empowering Engineers: Token Budgets, Innovation, and the Future of AI Costs

28:06The Evolving Role of the Engineer: From Code Writer to System Architect

The Evolving Role of the Engineer: From Code Writer to System Architect

32:39Coding is Largely Solved: The Printing Press Analogy and Democratization of Software

Coding is Largely Solved: The Printing Press Analogy and Democratization of Software

35:07The Next Frontier: AI's Impact on Product Management, Design, and Beyond

The Next Frontier: AI's Impact on Product Management, Design, and Beyond

Part 4: Societal Impact and Future Skills

37:51Navigating the Societal Impact of AI: Jobs, Democratization, and Ethical Considerations

Navigating the Societal Impact of AI: Jobs, Democratization, and Ethical Considerations

40:42Thriving in the AI Era: Experimentation, Generalist Skills, and Cross-Disciplinary Thinking

Thriving in the AI Era: Experimentation, Generalist Skills, and Cross-Disciplinary Thinking

42:26The Future of Team Roles: Blurred Lines and the Rise of the "Builder"

The Future of Team Roles: Blurred Lines and the Rise of the "Builder"

44:38AI's Impact on Job Satisfaction: Engineers and PMs Enjoying Work More

AI's Impact on Job Satisfaction: Engineers and PMs Enjoying Work More

Part 5: Innovation and Safety Frameworks

47:29Latent Demand: Unlocking Product Innovation by Observing User Behavior and Model Tendencies

Latent Demand: Unlocking Product Innovation by Observing User Behavior and Model Tendencies

51:55Building Co-work in 10 Days: Leveraging Claude Code and Embracing Early Releases

Building Co-work in 10 Days: Leveraging Claude Code and Embracing Early Releases

54:30Anthropic's Three-Layered Approach to AI Safety: Alignment, Evals, and Real-World Testing

Anthropic's Three-Layered Approach to AI Safety: Alignment, Evals, and Real-World Testing

59:36The Anxiety of Agent Downtime and the Future of Coding

The Anxiety of Agent Downtime and the Future of Coding

Part 6: Personal Background and Building Tips

1:01:15A Shared Ukrainian Heritage: Connecting Through Programming and History

A Shared Ukrainian Heritage: Connecting Through Programming and History

1:03:20Building AI Products: Don't Box the Model In, Bet on General Models, and Build for the Future

Building AI Products: Don't Box the Model In, Bet on General Models, and Build for the Future

1:07:15Building for the Future: Tool Use, Long-Term Runs, and the Trajectory of AI Improvement

Building for the Future: Tool Use, Long-Term Runs, and the Trajectory of AI Improvement

1:11:15Competition in the Coding Agent Space: Focusing on User Problems

Competition in the Coding Agent Space: Focusing on User Problems

Part 7: Recommendations and Closing

1:12:13Post-AGI Plans: Miso Making and Long-Time Skills

Post-AGI Plans: Miso Making and Long-Time Skills

1:14:01Anthropic's Mission: Coding, Tool Use, and Computer Use for AI Safety

Anthropic's Mission: Coding, Tool Use, and Computer Use for AI Safety

1:15:21User Feedback: The Key to Claude Code's Continuous Improvement

User Feedback: The Key to Claude Code's Continuous Improvement

1:16:15Lightning Round: Functional Programming in Scala, Accelerando, and Wandering Earth

Lightning Round: Functional Programming in Scala, Accelerando, and Wandering Earth

1:18:15Sci-Fi's Influence: Shaping Perspectives and Driving a Mission for AI Safety

Sci-Fi's Influence: Shaping Perspectives and Driving a Mission for AI Safety

1:19:16Favorite Recent Media: The Three-Body Problem Series on Netflix

Favorite Recent Media: The Three-Body Problem Series on Netflix

1:20:12Favorite Products: Co-work and the Acquired Podcast

Favorite Products: Co-work and the Acquired Podcast

1:21:04Getting Started with Co-work: Tool Use, Connected Tools, and Parallel Tasks

Getting Started with Co-work: Tool Use, Connected Tools, and Parallel Tasks

1:23:46Life Motto: Use Common Sense

Life Motto: Use Common Sense

1:24:46Engaging on Twitter: Bugs, Feedback, and the Pace of AI Development

Engaging on Twitter: Bugs, Feedback, and the Pace of AI Development