What does it mean to be a builder in a time when AI can build all on its own?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran sits down with JJ Englert, founder of NoCode Alliance, creator, teacher, filmmaker-turned-builder, and a major voice in the no-code movement. JJ shares the unlikely journey from roofing to becoming a filmmaker, to finally discovering no-code — and now AI-powered coding. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping what it means to create software, why curiosity is becoming the most important developer skill, and how even seasoned engineers must adapt to avoid “legacy doubt.”

Topics covered include:

• The rise of the AI-literate builder: Why today’s advantage isn’t syntax — it’s understanding architecture, knowing what to ask, and working fluidly with AI as a coding partner.
• From no-code to full-stack with AI: How JJ went from “I don’t think I’m smart enough for this” to building full applications with real code in weeks, powered by no-code and, eventually, AI IDEs.
• The adoption gap inside companies: Why C-suites got excited, then cautious — and how organizations are slowly figuring out their AI-first vs. AI-layered strategies.
• Curiosity as survival skill: How both new makers and veteran engineers need the same thing: the willingness to experiment, learn, and challenge long-held assumptions.
• The future of multimodal computing: From personalized software that builds itself to real-time AR copilots — why the next leap goes far beyond chat.

Episode ID: 18356341-the-new-builder-mindset-jj-englert-nocode-alliance

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If AI can find the lead and write the email… what still separates the best GTM teams from everyone else?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran talks with Derek Evjenth, longtime go-to-market leader and current enterprise sales lead at Adobe, about what it really takes to build a successful GTM strategy in the age of AI. Derek draws on his journey from bootstrapped founder at Second Media to Salesforce enterprise rep, startup advisor, and now Adobe leader to explain why mastering fundamentals still beats chasing shortcuts. Together, they dig into how AI changes research and outreach, where human connection still wins, how to manage change inside sales orgs, and why maybe, just maybe, AI isn’t the secret to the last mile of selling.

Topics covered include:

• Fundamentals over shortcuts: Why a clear sales process, ICP definition, and stage discipline matter more than any single AI tool.
• AI as a force multiplier, not a closer: How AI can collapse hours of research into minutes — but can’t replace real conversations, trust, and in-person connection.
• The new AI-literate seller: Why BDRs, SDRs, and AEs need prompt engineering, call recording, and data hygiene as part of their core skill set.
• Beyond the sale: How post-sale partnership, call insights, and customer success alignment turn wins into long-term, referenceable relationships.

Episode ID: 18298698-the-role-of-ai-in-gtm-derek-evjenth-adobe

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How do you prepare a decades-old enterprise for an AI-native future?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran talks with George Bock, CIO at Generali Global Assistance, about what it takes to modernize an enterprise when the technology landscape is moving faster than ever. George shares lessons from a career of leading complex transformations — from cloud migrations and legacy system retirements to M&A integrations — and why the fundamentals of people, data, and communication still matter more than any single tool. Together, they break down how leaders can build AI-ready teams, create strong data foundations, mitigate organizational risk, and navigate the human side of change without losing momentum.

Topics covered include:

• Human-centered transformation: Why the first step in any AI initiative is aligning teams, breaking silos, and strengthening communication.
• Data before disruption: How clean, governed, high-quality data becomes the foundation for every effective AI system.
• Upskilling for an AI era: How to prepare teams for the shift in skills, roles, and decision-making that AI introduces.
• Risk, governance, and vendor trust: What enterprise leaders should look for when evaluating AI tools, partners, and security postures.

The future enterprise: Why AI will flatten org structures, automate mid-level decision work, and create new hybrid workflows between humans and agents.

Episode ID: 18296467-building-an-ai-native-enterprise-george-bock-generali-global-assistance

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From Xano - The fastest way to create a production-ready backend for any app or agent. Xano unifies AI speed, code control, and visual clarity, so you never trade reliability for velocity. Sign up for free today.

Have the basic requirements for building a good user experience actually changed?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran sits down with Tony Casparro, senior staff software engineer at OpenAI, to talk about his current work on ChatGPT. Tony shares some of the past user experience lessons he learned at Netflix, and how they can be translated into an AI world. Together, they cover how to get the most out of AI (and what not to do with it), some of ChatGPT’s critical UX features (deep thinking, pivot points, third-party app support), and the way in which AI is changing how we interact with software.

Topics covered include:

• From streaming to chat: What Netflix taught Tony about usability, accessibility, and anticipating human behavior.
• AI as a design partner, not a design maker: The best results come from working with AI, not outsourcing thought to it.
• The rise of contextual interfaces: ChatGPT’s new third-party apps are changing how users interact with brands and information.
• Cognitive offloading with care: How to delegate tasks to AI while keeping your creative and critical skills sharp.

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From Xano - The fastest way to create a production-ready backend for any app or agent. Xano unifies AI speed, code control, and visual clarity, so you never trade reliability for velocity. Sign up for free today.

Is software dead? Are engineers going to disappear?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran talks with Ray Deck, founder of State Change and longtime technologist, about how software creation is evolving in the age of AI. Ray explains why the future isn’t about replacing developers or building the right SaaS — but about rethinking how we define both of those terms. Together, they explore the evolving profile of a developer and why software might be ephemeral, but the data and customers behind it are constants.

• AI as amplifier: AI helps shorten the path between concept and creation, expanding the definition of what a developer is, emphasizing the importance of AI literacy and putting a premium on creativity.
• Data Is the foundation: Your most durable advantage isn’t code — it’s the data and customer context that power your products.
• Think big, build small: Big ideas will increasingly be delivered through targeted, temporary tools designed to solve precise problems.

Episode ID: 18126513-how-ai-is-changing-developers-and-what-they-build-with-ray-deck

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From Xano - The fastest way to create a production-ready backend for any app or agent. Xano unifies AI speed, code control, and visual clarity, so you never trade reliability for velocity. Sign up for free today.

What if the future of software isn’t about AI replacing everything, but about learning how to work with AI to build products that are more human?

Futureproof, the new podcast from Xano, explores how to rethink the way we design, develop, and lead. Join host Prakash Chandran as he talks with engineers, startup founders, and app dev leaders about the evolution of software, the rise of AI-native teams, and what it takes to stay ahead.

Episode ID: 18135257-this-is-futureproof

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From Xano - The fastest way to create a production-ready backend for any app or agent. Xano unifies AI speed, code control, and visual clarity, so you never trade reliability for velocity. Sign up for free today.