Microsoft Engineer Sees Radical Ownership as Key to Unlocking AI Potential

Raki Rahman, a principal software engineer at Microsoft, has a complex relationship with AI tools. He uses Large Language Models (LLMs) extensively in his work on Microsoft's SQL Server database team but remains skeptical of their ability to solve complex business problems without tight controls and the right intentions.

Rahman's team gathers real-time data about database performance from millions of SQL Server customers, processing over 300 petabytes of data. He uses LLMs to increase productivity but believes they are not a magic wand that can easily solve complex issues in data engineering.

Rahman shared his approach to LLMs and what he wishes leadership understood about the immense pressure senior ICs are under right now. He emphasized the importance of ownership and control when using AI tools, suggesting that radical ownership might be the answer to tech's 'slop problem'.