As AI becomes capable of writing more software, could hand-coded apps eventually become the digital equivalent of handmade furniture or artisan jewelry? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike debate whether people will ever pay a premium for software written by humans, whether users actually care how an app was built, and why the outcome may matter far more than the tools developers use. They also discuss AI backlash in gaming, open-source software, the “software is dead” conversation, and why staying close to what users actually value could matter more than ever.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/would-you-pay-more-for-hand-coded-software

AI coding tools are getting more capable, but learning to use them well is about more than chasing the newest model. In this episode, Matt and Mike break down the fundamentals developers need to work effectively with AI, from models, agents, and harnesses to tools like Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex. We also walk through a practical six-stage progression for building trust in AI-assisted development - starting with small tasks you verify yourself and gradually moving toward agents that can plan, build, review, and test work inside a reliable verification loop.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-basics-for-developers

Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

AI can save small businesses time, reduce repetitive work, and unlock capabilities that previously required more people, but where should you actually start? In this episode, Matt and Mike break down how small businesses can introduce AI without getting overwhelmed, from identifying high-frequency, low-risk tasks and protecting sensitive business data to turning successful experiments into repeatable AI workflows. We also discuss why you shouldn't automate everything at once, how your existing expertise makes AI more useful, when AI can hurt your brand, and why even a small business should consider having a basic AI policy.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-basics-for-small-businesses

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Our world already has an instant gratification problem and AI has somehow made it worse. It's making skilled work faster and cheaper than ever, which in turn makes us more impatient than ever. Why should we spend a week learning a new SEO tool or a new coding method when we can just ask our AI to do it in a snap? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss AI-powered instant gratification, the pressure to constantly build and experiment, and the strange feeling that when almost anything can be made quickly, maybe we should be doing everything.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-has-made-skilled-labour-almost-free-and-its-scary

Tech layoffs can happen with little warning, even when your company is doing well. In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss the warning signs that layoffs may be coming, how to prepare while you're still employed, and what to do when a layoff starts looking imminent. From building an emergency fund and keeping your resume current to documenting your accomplishments and strengthening your professional network, we cover practical ways to make an unexpected layoff much easier to navigate.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/how-to-prepare-for-a-tech-layoff

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AI models are already remarkably capable, but their intelligence doesn’t matter much if they’re too expensive, limited, or confusing to use. In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss why cheaper and faster models, higher usage limits, and a better user experience could be more important than winning the next benchmark - and why the future of AI may be about making today’s technology genuinely usable.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ais-biggest-problem-isnt-intelligence-anymore

AI is easy to start using, but getting good at it takes practice. In this episode, Matt and Mike break down the AI basics everyone should learn first, from improving your prompts and knowing when AI needs to search the web to verifying important answers and avoiding AI overload. Whether you're using ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or another AI tool, these tips will help you build better habits and get more useful results.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-basics-learn-these-tips-first

Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.