Robby Russell

As AI lets teams generate more code, many Rails engineers are discovering their bottlenecks were never about typing speed. They were slow feedback loops, fragile deploys, dependency sprawl, and years of overlapping architectural patterns that never fully disappeared.

AI agents amplify those problems. They also reward systems built around strong conventions, predictable workflows, and integrated tooling… areas where Rails continues to double down.

Drawing from firsthand experience modernizing long-lived Rails applications and conversations across the community, this talk explores why the engineers creating the most leverage are increasingly the ones improving the environment around the code, unlocking their teammates and AI agents by making systems safer, clearer, and easier to evolve.