AI was meant to be the end of the junior developer. Kyle Davidson just hired one. In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Kyle Davidson, co-founder of Hypership, an AI-native software consultancy. Kyle spent twelve years at Kainos building software for public services, then left a good job with a baby on the way to start something of his own. Hypership is his fifth business, and he's honest about the four before it. His own route in was an accident. He grew up in Ballybeen, went to secondary school near Portavogie, took travel and tourism, ICT and business studies at A-level, and wanted to be a teacher. He got into university through clearing, and only found computing in second year. Now he hasn't written a line of code in two years, and he's building more software than ever. Kyle explains what actually changed (it wasn't the models suddenly getting clever at coding), why he still reviews everything AI produces, and why "vibe coding" is the phrase that worries him. He also makes the case for hiring young people while the rest of the industry cuts junior roles, and explains why his 19-year-old apprentice is learning without AI. Whether you're a parent worried AI is closing doors for your child, a teacher or careers adviser, or someone already working in tech and wondering what happens next, this is a clear-eyed look at what the change actually means. In This Episode: — Why he applied for Kainos' summer app scheme, didn't get in, and turned up anyway with a pen and paper — The app he built for families with someone with autism, and the first time he realised software could help people — What twelve years at Kainos taught him, and why he stayed hands-on even as a manager — Street Manager: the project that replaced hundreds of separate road works permit systems with one — The door with three handles, and what his failed businesses taught him about it — How Bid Sooner got a load of local companies signing up, but not enough paying for it — The prototype he built for DVSA that lets MOT inspectors dictate a report while AI checks the latest standards — What actually changed to make AI good at writing software: context windows, not cleverness — Why he doesn't trust it, and what reviewing AI-generated code really looks like — Why he hired a 19-year-old apprentice with no degree, four days a week, while the industry cuts juniors — The gap between companies adopting AI and companies getting anything out of it — His advice for young people: use it, but don't skip the part where you learn — What is so good about work, from someone who says he doesn't feel like he works YouTube Chapters: 00:00 - Opening quote: Ronaldo, Coke bottles and the share price 00:10 - Welcome to Workplus 00:28 - School, and a box of old exam results 01:43 - Wanting to be a teacher, and getting in through clearing 02:24 - The Java book, and learning how to revise 03:21 - The exam question that changed everything 04:19 - Switching to computing, and finding the thing that fit 05:19 - No programming at school, and the luck of geography 06:03 - Ballyhalbert, and no smartphone until 21 07:35 - Digital makers, not just digital users 08:51 - "What do you do that's boring?" 10:36 - Kainos App Camp: the application that didn't work 12:37 - Turning up with a pen and paper 13:40 - Building an app for families with autism 14:32 - Twelve years at Kainos, and the career ladder 15:44 - Why he stayed hands-on as a manager 16:49 - Street Manager: one system for digging up the road 18:35 - Covid, home working, and choosing the office 20:21 - Hypership: the fifth business 21:56 - Leaving a good job with a baby on the way 22:33 - The door with three handles 23:29 - Bid Sooner 25:01 - Eighteen months out of work, and the product that landed 26:14 - The DVSA prototype: AI reading the MOT rulebook 29:42 - Context windows, not clever coding 32:38 - "I haven't written a line of code in two years" 34:51 - Vibe coding: it looks like it works 37:00 - Anna, the apprentice learning without AI 41:10 - Why junior careers aren't dead 45:14 - Adopting AI isn't the same as being good at it 47:27 - "It's the worst it'll ever be" 49:09 - What is so good about work Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland. Find more stories, resources, and tools to help guide the next generation at workplus.app Know someone exploring their career options? Share this with a parent, teacher, or future leader. Subscribe so you never miss a story. #CareerDevelopment #AI #SoftwareEngineering #Apprenticeships #TechCareers #NorthernIrelandCareers #WorkplusPodcast #YouthEmployment 🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light. 🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app 📩 Know someone who would find this helpful? Share it with a parent, teacher, or future changemaker. 🎙 Follow so you never miss a story. 🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light. 🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app 📩 Know someone who would find this helpful? Share it with a parent, teacher, or future changemaker. 🎙Follow so you never miss a story.
