The audio and video are in Spanish. These notes are a translation.
1:22 - The Ironman Suit: AI to Empower Teams
Fernando compares the use of AI tools with putting on an Ironman suit at work.
- What does it mean to “put the Ironman suit on people” at Kavak?
- How has the productivity of the teams changed after bringing AI in?
- What is the impact of AI on the balance between humans and automation?
12:01 - Building Technology in the Physical World
From homemade irrigation systems to voicebots in customer service, Fernando applies AI beyond the digital world.
- What did he learn by designing technology for his house?
- Why is it important for engineers to interact with the physical world?
- How does he evaluate technical knowledge in interviews?
19:00 - AI in Customer Service and Internal Processes
At Kavak they implemented a voicebot that schedules appointments and answers questions over the phone, available 24/7.
- What challenges did implementing a conversational voice agent involve?
- How does AI affect customer service at night?
- How do they handle the human-machine handoff when the bot fails?
24:00 - The Future of Technical Work with AI
Fernando reflects on the role of AI as a copilot in daily work, especially in technical tasks.
- What changes does he see in the work of the mechanic, the plumber, or the doctor with AI?
- What examples of hardware or physical devices excite him?
- What will work look like in non-digital industries in the future?
29:00 - Daily Life with AI
AI also keeps him company outside of work, from presentations to conversations in the car.
- What tasks does he delegate to AI today in his day to day?
- How much has his experience as a programmer changed?
- What tools does he recommend for using AI in everyday life?
35:00 - How to Lead AI Adoption in a Company
Fernando promotes a culture of voluntary but incentivized AI adoption inside Kavak.
- What strategy did they use to encourage the use of AI across the company?
- How did different profiles react to these tools?
- What role does internal training, such as the “AI Academy”, play?
42:00 - Technology Teams in the AI Era
The speed of iteration changes, but the foundations of a good technical team remain.
- How does AI affect the structure of technical teams?
- What is the risk of moving too fast with new tools?
- What remains essential beyond AI?
47:00 - Internal Startups and Team Autonomy
Kavak organizes its teams as mini startups with autonomy and accountability.
- How does the mini startup model work inside Kavak?
- What challenges did they face when they implemented it?
- What did they learn about decentralization and speed?
50:00 - Technical Careers and the Future for Juniors
Fernando advises choosing what you are passionate about and staying adaptable.
- What would he say to someone who is choosing a technical career today?
- Does it make sense to choose based on “job prospects”?
- What room is there for junior profiles in this new world?
55:00 - Quick Questions for CTOs
Fernando answers key questions about technical leadership.
- Should a CTO know how to code?
- What are we still underestimating about AI?
- How do you stay up to date without losing focus?
Episode Mentions
You can find Fernando on LinkedIn Discover More of the Startupeable Podcast
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Follow Enzo Cavalie on X: @enzocavalie.