AI on Nightmare Difficulty: Secure Code Generation in the US Government

How do you implement cutting-edge AI in one of the world's most regulated and secure environments?In this episode, Deejay talks to Mike Gehard, Director of R&D at Rise 8, a custom software development firm that is all-in on developing AI solutions for the US federal government. Mike shares how his team is tackling the "nightmare difficulty" of using generative AI for both internal software development and for building AI-powered features for government agencies.This is a masterclass in pragmatic AI adoption, moving beyond the hype to solve real-world security, process, and human challenges. Mike details the practical steps Rise 8 is taking, from running Claude Code securely in containers to his ambitious goal of enabling a single person to take a feature from idea to production.In this episode, you will learn about:Practical strategies for using AI securely in highly regulated industries like government, finance, and healthcare.Why Mike believes "inside-out" test-driven development is dead in the age of AI.The power of custom slash commands and MCP servers to amplify developer effectiveness and share knowledge.How to address "AI hesitancy" and encourage adoption among skilled software craftspeople.The story of the "Brian Bot" and what it reveals about AI's powerful pattern-matching capabilities.Mike’s vision for a single person to take a product from idea to production using AI.About Our Guest:Mike Gehard is the Director of R&D at Rise 8, a custom software development firm focused on delivering AI-powered solutions for the US federal government. With a background as a software craftsman at Pivotal, Mike is now focused on transforming the software development lifecycle by integrating AI at every step, navigating complex security requirements to deliver value to the US taxpayer.