Breakfast with Peeves: On AI, Software, and the Delicate Art of Not Breaking Everything

It was a crisp morning, the sort that inspires one to make bold declarations over toast and eggs. I had just finished buttering a slice when I turned to Peeves, the most unflappable valet ever to grace a breakfast table.? ?

Booster? Peeves, I’ve decided to launch a newsletter. AI in software engineering. None of that grandiose “AI will solve everything” sort of thing—just the real nuts and bolts.?

Peeves? A most commendable endeavor, sir. One assumes you will refrain from the more… excitable narratives involving artificial intelligence single-handedly engineering the future??

Booster? Quite! I mean, the thing’s doing a splendid job helping out—generating code, writing test cases, catching bugs before they make a run for it. But let’s be honest, it’s still making howlers.?

Peeves? Indeed, sir. AI, for all its computational prowess, does have a remarkable talent for marching confidently into entirely the wrong conclusions.?

Booster? Like the time it flagged my code as a ‘high-risk anomaly’ just because I used a semicolon creatively??

Peeves? An unfortunate oversight, sir. One might say AI is, at times, like an overzealous hall monitor—quick to raise an alarm, yet not always discerning in its accusations.?

Booster? That’s precisely why I’m writing this newsletter! Not to worship AI, not to bash it, but to talk about how it actually fits into the software world—where it helps, where it stumbles, and where humans still need to step in before everything goes pear-shaped.?

Peeves? A refreshingly balanced approach, sir. One trusts you shall address both software development and quality engineering??

Booster? Oh, absolutely. AI is now reviewing code, predicting defects, optimizing deployment—practically moving in and redecorating the place. But someone needs to keep an eye on it.?

Peeves? Transparency and oversight, sir. Most crucial. If one leaves AI to its own devices without appropriate checks, one may soon find oneself in the regrettable position of the gentleman who trained a model to distinguish between dogs and wolves, only to realize it was merely identifying snow in the background.?

Booster? Exactly! This newsletter will cut through the fluff—what works, what doesn’t, and where the human touch remains irreplaceable.?

Peeves? A most worthwhile endeavor, sir. If I may be so bold, perhaps a conversational format such as this would serve well??Also, Sir- it might be better if you were to start with sharing while you are learning more.

Booster? You mean you and I, hashing it out over breakfast? By Jove, Peeves! That’s the ticket! We pick a topic, have a bit of back-and-forth, and let the reader walk away feeling a tad more enlightened.?Sometimes I will just ramble on my own as well.

Peeves? One endeavors to be of service, sir. Shall I replenish the tea??

And thus, with toast crumbs and a renewed sense of purpose, the newsletter was born.?