Beyond the Hype

Scott Logic

Beyond the Hype is a monthly podcast from the Scott Logic team where we cast a practical eye over what is new and exciting in software development – everything from Kafka to Kubernetes, AI to APIs, microservices to micro-frontends. We look beyond the promises, the buzz and excitement to guide you towards the genuine value. At Scott Logic, we have years of experience in tackling tough software problems for our clients, often at the bleeding edge of technology. Each month on this podcast, our CTO Colin Eberhardt brings together friends, colleagues and experts for a demystifying discussion that aims to take you beyond the hype.

  1. Is Agile now a dirty word?

    22 OCT

    Is Agile now a dirty word?

    In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by Josie Walledge, Catherine Pratt and Dave Ogle to explore whether Agile has lost its meaning – or worse, become a dirty word. With years of combined experience, the panel reflects on Agile's evolution from a revolutionary mindset to a sometimes rigid and misunderstood process. They unpack common misconceptions, like Agile being synonymous with speed or chaos, and discuss how frameworks like Scrum and SAFe can either empower or constrain teams. The conversation highlights the importance of planning, governance, and trust, emphasising that Agile works best when it's flexible, outcome-focused, and tailored to context. Whether you're deep in delivery or just curious about Agile's relevance today, this episode offers practical insights and candid reflections that go well beyond the hype. Useful links for this episode The Agile Manifesto Our Approach to Delivery – Josie Walledge, Scott Logic Why a holistic approach is the key to a successful legacy modernisation project – Catherine Pratt, Scott Logic Dave Ogle's blog posts on Agile – Dave Ogle, Scott Logic Strategy to Reality with Whynde Kuehn, Lisa Woodall and Catherine Pratt – Architect Tomorrow

    33 min
  2. Will Low-Code and No-Code be disrupted or powered up by AI?

    9 JUL

    Will Low-Code and No-Code be disrupted or powered up by AI?

    In this episode of Beyond the Hype, Oliver Cronk is joined by Ani Allen from OutSystems and Ryan Grey from Marra to discuss the evolving landscape of Low-Code, No-Code, and AI-assisted development. With backgrounds spanning neuroscience, enterprise software, and consultancy, the guests bring a rich mix of perspectives to a conversation that cuts through the hype.   They explore the spectrum from No-Code, through Low-Code, to High- (or Pro-?) Code, and consider how AI is reshaping the development experience. From citizen developers and shadow IT to the promise (and pitfalls) of conversational coding, the discussion highlights both the opportunities and governance challenges that come with democratising software creation.   Whether you're a developer, tech leader, or just curious about the future of building software, this episode offers a grounded look at how Low-Code and AI might transform your digital strategy, if used wisely. Useful links for this episode Marra insight articles – Marra OutSystems blog posts – OutSystems Microsoft Power Platform Center of Excellence (CoE) Starter Kit – Microsoft Is It Cake? – Wikipedia

    42 min
  3. Event-Driven Architecture: The only data integration approach you need?

    10 JUN

    Event-Driven Architecture: The only data integration approach you need?

    In this episode, Oliver Cronk dives into the world of Event-Driven Architecture (EDA) with Tom Fairbairn from Solace and Scott Logic's Gordon Campbell. The discussion explores whether EDA has matured beyond the hype into a practical strategy for modern systems integration, or if it's just another architectural buzzword. Together, they unpack the core principles of EDA, its role in taming point-to-point integration chaos, and how asynchronous processing can help smooth demand spikes. Drawing on real-world examples from finance, retail, and public sector projects, the conversation highlights the power and pitfalls of adopting EDA. Whether you're navigating legacy systems, planning a cloud migration, or exploring AI integration, this episode offers a grounded perspective on when – and when not – to go event-driven. Useful links for this episode Data engineering posts on the Scott Logic blog Tom Fairbairn's posts on the Solace blog Event-Driven Integration posts on the Solace blog

    46 min
  4. Does innovation have to come at the expense of ethics?

    12 MAY

    Does innovation have to come at the expense of ethics?

    Oliver Cronk is joined by Scott Logic's Sophia Ashley and Alix Dunn from the 'Computer Says Maybe' podcast for a wide-ranging discussion which poses ethical questions that are frequently ignored in the race for technological innovation. Together, they explore the intersection of technology and power, and examine whether society is unwittingly allowing technology to reshape our world without adequate scrutiny or safeguards. As technological innovations continue to promote the atomisation and polarisation of society and the erosion of human agency, our guests consider what's required to achieve the right balance of People, Planet and Profit. From the global to the local, the discussion rounds off by providing practical advice on how you can promote a more human-centric approach to technology in your life and your work. Useful links for this episode Computer Says Maybe podcast Defying Datafication with Dr Abeba Birhane – Computer Says Maybe The Human in the Loop: what's it like to work in the AI supply chain? – Computer Says Maybe Are we sleepwalking into tomorrow's AI challenges? – Oliver Cronk Gradual Disempowerment: Systemic Existential Risks from Incremental AI Development – Jan Kulveit, Raymond Douglas, Nora Ammann, Deger Turan, David Krueger, David Duvenaud The Planet as a Stakeholder The Responsible Business Map The Green PO Doing the Doughnut Tech

    46 min
  5. Should fully autonomous AI agents be developed?

    15 APR

    Should fully autonomous AI agents be developed?

    In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by colleagues David Rees, Hélène Sauvé, Ivan Mladjenovic and Emma Pearce. Together, they delve into the practical applications and limitations of agentic AI and its implications for enterprise AI deployments. The team shares insights from the 'Infer' research and development projects, through which Scott Logic produced and open-sourced InferLLM (a local, personalised AI agent) and InferESG (which uses AI agents to identify greenwashing in Environmental, Social and Governance reports). With real-world examples and expert perspectives, the panel provides a nuanced view of whether fully autonomous agents are hype or reality in 2025. They discuss the balance between human oversight and automation, and emphasise the importance of transparency and traceability in AI systems. They also consider the ethical considerations of self-building agents and the challenges of ensuring reliable AI outputs. Have a listen to gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of agentic AI and its potential impact on various sectors. Useful links for this episode InferLLM on GitHub – Open-sourced by Scott Logic InferESG on GitHub – Open-sourced by Scott Logic InferESG: Augmenting ESG Analysis with Generative AI – David Rees, Scott Logic InferESG: Finding the Right Architecture for AI-Powered ESG Analysis – David Rees, Scott Logic InferESG: Harnessing agentic AI for due diligence – Scott Logic case study Beyond the Hype: Will we ever be able to secure GenAI? – Scott Logic Beyond the Hype: Is architecture for AI even necessary? – Scott Logic Draft classification for different types of Enterprise AI deployment – Oliver Cronk, Scott Logic

    40 min
  6. Is architecture for AI even necessary?

    13 MAR

    Is architecture for AI even necessary?

    In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by colleagues Jess McEvoy and James Heward, and Atom Bank's Head of AI and Data Science, Russell Collingham, to tackle the provocative question: "Is architecture for AI even necessary?" They explore the transformative impact of generative AI and the critical role of architecture in ensuring sustainable and scalable implementations. Russell shares Atom Bank's approach to building reusable AI components while navigating security and governance challenges. James emphasises the evolving role of architects in balancing innovation with practical constraints, arguing that architecture remains essential for mission-critical applications. Jess provides a public sector perspective, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to AI regulation and innovation. The episode also delves into the geopolitical implications of AI, the importance of data sovereignty, and the potential for the UK to develop its own AI strategy. Have a listen to gain insights into the ongoing debate about the necessity of architecture in the AI era and the strategic considerations for leveraging AI effectively. Useful links for this episode There is more than one way to do GenAI – Oliver Cronk, Scott Logic Are we sleepwalking into tomorrow's AI challenges? – Oliver Cronk, Scott Logic Building Effective AI Agents – Anthropic Fully Autonomous AI Agents Should Not Be Developed (PDF) – Hugging Face Will the US cloud soon be illegal in the EU? – CIO

    47 min
  7. Are enterprise browsers just about security?

    10 FEB

    Are enterprise browsers just about security?

    In this episode of Beyond the Hype, Oliver Cronk is joined by Bradon Rogers from Island, along with Scott Logic colleagues Dean Kerr and Robat Williams, to explore the potential of enterprise browsers. They delve into the advantages of enterprise browsers over standard options like Chrome and Edge, particularly in terms of security and productivity. Bradon describes how enterprise browsers, built on a Chromium foundation, offer a familiar user experience while integrating robust security features and application delivery capabilities. The discussion also covers the challenges of using consumer-grade browsers in corporate environments, the benefits of desktop container technologies, and the potential for enterprise browsers to simplify security and enhance user productivity. Join the panel as they consider whether enterprise browsers will transform the way organisations manage and secure their digital workspaces. Useful links for this episode Emerging Tech: Security — The Future of Enterprise Browsers – Gartner Web browsers: Reimagining remote work needs at the enterprise level – CIO The rise of the enterprise browser and what's next for secure browsing – VentureBeat

    45 min
  8. Technology Strategies: Essential roadmaps or just hype?

    27 JAN

    Technology Strategies: Essential roadmaps or just hype?

    In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by Technology Lead Andrew Carr and CTO Colin Eberhardt to delve into the evolving nature of technology strategy within organisations. As technological advancements accelerate, they question the relevance of a traditional long-term technology strategy and whether it has become an industry buzzword in itself. They explore the annual ritual of tech predictions and strategic planning, and whether it is practical or performative. They also debate the balance between addressing technical debt and fostering innovation, the influence of analyst-driven hype, and the critical decision of buy versus build. There's a lot of hype to navigate around, but they bring their range of experiences to bear in providing a nuanced perspective on how to create effective technology strategies that genuinely add value – by aligning technology strategies with business goals. Links from this episode How to build an effective technical strategy – LeadDev Better than a secret weapon: 5 steps to a winning technology skills strategy  – TechUK The Tech:Forward recipe for a successful technology transformation – McKinsey

    39 min
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About

Beyond the Hype is a monthly podcast from the Scott Logic team where we cast a practical eye over what is new and exciting in software development – everything from Kafka to Kubernetes, AI to APIs, microservices to micro-frontends. We look beyond the promises, the buzz and excitement to guide you towards the genuine value. At Scott Logic, we have years of experience in tackling tough software problems for our clients, often at the bleeding edge of technology. Each month on this podcast, our CTO Colin Eberhardt brings together friends, colleagues and experts for a demystifying discussion that aims to take you beyond the hype.

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Logic
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Hype