Zahed Heidari - Developers Now Have a Second Brain: Learning to Think With AI
Details
AI tools are often positioned as a way to write code faster but in practice, their biggest impact may be in how developers think, reason, and make decisions.
In this session, Zahed Heidari shares practical examples of using AI as a reasoning partner during real development work. We’ll explore how engineers are using AI to debug complex issues, navigate unfamiliar codebases, and structure technical decisions, without losing control or relying on “black box” outputs.
Rather than focusing on specific tools or prompt tricks, this talk centres on mental models and workflows that make AI genuinely useful in day-to-day engineering. Expect concrete scenarios, trade-offs, and patterns you can apply immediately.
Developers Now Have a Second Brain: Learning to Think With AI
You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to integrate AI into your thinking process — using it to extend your capabilities while maintaining strong engineering judgement and ownership.
Key takeaways:
- Using AI as a reasoning partner, not just a code generator
- Practical workflows for debugging and problem-solving with AI
- Structuring technical decisions with AI support
- Navigating unfamiliar systems more effectively
- Maintaining control, context, and engineering judgement
Who should attend
Software engineers, tech leads, and engineering managers who want to use AI more effectively in their daily work — especially for problem-solving, debugging, and decision-making rather than just code generation.
Why it's worth attending
Most conversations about AI in engineering focus on speed. This session focuses on thinking better. You’ll gain practical ways to improve how you approach complex problems with AI, alongside the chance to connect with Manchester’s growing applied-AI community.
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Agenda
18:30 – Doors, pizza & mingling
18:50 – Introductions
19:00 – Talk by Zahed Heidari: Developers Now Have a Second Brain: Learning to Think With AI
19:30 – Q&A
19:50 – Open social & refreshments
20:30 – Close
Entry
Upon arrival at AND Digital, Manchester, please check in at reception and you’ll be directed to the meetup.