By Design with Michael Light

I'll take a double shot espresso, please — no decaf.Right now, the AI the enterprise is handing you is decaffeinated. That's not an indictment, it's just reality. But it doesn't have to stay that way. As we figure out how AI should actually help us, we need to set expectations, demand more, and shape the experience — before the big enterprise players dig their moats too deep.Double shot coming right up!Links & references• The essay this episode builds on — How AI Agents at Home Can Inform the Enterprise: https://michaelbydesign.substack.com/p/how-ai-agents-at-home-can-inform• OpenClaw (self-hosted agent platform): https://openclaw.org• Meet the Leo & Co. agent team: https://www.leoandco.org/team/• My site: https://michaellight.org• Subscribe to the Substack: https://michaelbydesign.substack.com• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts• Subscribe on Spotify Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelbydesign.substack.com

Everyone's vibe coding. You describe what you want, an AI writes the code, and moments later you're testing it in the browser — no backlog, no sprint, no two-week change window. It feels like magic.But there's a trap nobody warns you about — and the euphoria that makes you feel unstoppable is exactly what keeps you from seeing it. In this episode, Michael unpacks what vibe coding actually is, the failure mode he sees most often, and where it really belongs — especially inside the enterprise.Stick around to the end, where Michael leaves you with three things you can actually do to get better outcomes the next time you sit down to build.Read the full written piece: What to Do When Everyone's Vibe CodingAbout the ShowBy Design with Michael Light is for builders who refuse to let AI flatten their craft. Each episode digs into the intersection of technology, design, and intentional work — how to use powerful tools without trading away the judgment, taste, and soul that make the work yours. Hosted by Michael Light, a 25-year practitioner across design, software, and AI, with a current focus on applied AI and machine learning at scale. Part of the Michael by Design project. New episodes regularly — subscribe so you don't miss one.CreditsWritten, produced, and scored by Michael Light.A note on production: AI assisted only with formatting, spelling, and grammar. All other content is original to Michael Light. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelbydesign.substack.com