GitHub Next - How Their Research and Prototyping Team Operates

Explore the inner workings of GitHub Next, the innovation lab responsible for revolutionary AI-powered developer tools like GitHub Copilot, in this 30-minute conference talk featuring Idan Gazit and Eddie Aftandilian. Discover how this "department of fool around and find out" operates as GitHub's research and prototyping team, constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in software development. Learn about the unique challenges of leading an innovation team, including strategies for hiring the right talent who can thrive in an experimental environment where failure is part of the learning process. Examine real-world examples of both successful breakthroughs and valuable failures that have shaped GitHub's approach to AI in development tools. Understand the decision-making frameworks used for selecting which experimental bets to pursue and how the team balances risk with potential impact. Gain insights into the critical role of demos and internal validation in proving concepts before they reach the broader developer community. Explore how AI tools are transforming not just the products GitHub creates, but also how the GitHub Next team itself operates and innovates, providing a behind-the-scenes look at one of the tech industry's most influential research labs.