Month: May 2026

Link to the book

I’m often asked what invention I think is the biggest in human history. I do not have one that is the biggest, but I have a short list:

1) Writing – once we learned how to codify knowledge, our progress accelerated tremendously

2) Computing – once we learned how to make complex calculations fast, we started to achieve the impossible – going to the Moon, communicating over the Internet, just to name a few.

3) AI – when we learned how to utilize advanced calculations to simulate intelligence, humanity achieved new heights

This book takes us through that kind of journey. It does add a few more steps, like the invention of binary calculations, the Internet, Google, etc., but in essence, it does follow the same pattern.

What the book does not cover, and what I often wonder about, is the invention of the compiler. Compilers, especially for higher-level programming languages like C, provided the abstraction needed to decouple the nitty-gritty details of computer architectures from the problems we want to solve.

We see a similar development today with LLMs and Agentic AI. It decouples the details of programs from the intents and requirements of the user. We do not need to know anything about programming to create software that does things for us. Product owners can create prototypes, requirements engineers can test their hypotheses, testers can ensure that they do not miss important corner cases – the examples can be multiplied, and that’s just software engineering.

This does not mean that software engineering is solved, as Nvidia’s CEO put it, it means that it has changed. It’s probably the most fun time to be a software engineer as we can start solving really difficult questions without the need to lose time for details of the implementations. We also need the knowledge how to design systems based on AI – how to engineer them (BTW: if you are interested in this, here is my latest book that will help you: Link).

I recommend Tom Wheeler’s book to anyone interested in the story of how we invented AI in the first place.

The VECS 2026 conference in Gothenburg has made one thing clear: the transition to Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) is no longer a future prediction—it is accelerating rapidly toward total market dominance. I’ve been to both days and it seems that the best time for software is NOW! For a nerdy software engineer like me, this conference provided a glimpse of the future where software defines everything, AI – yes, but complemented with a lot of good-old-fashion programming, guardrails and similar.

My Key Takeaways from the Conference:

• Rapid Market Evolution: While current volumes are relatively low, the global SDV share is projected to jump from 14% in 2025 to 46% by 2035. Similarly, Zonal Architectures are expected to grow from a 5% share today to 40% by 2035.
• The Rise of Middleware: Middleware is emerging as a critical control point for OEMs. To shorten time-to-market and maintain control over software platforms, OEMs are now partnering to develop joint middleware solutions rather than relying on fragmented supplier systems.
• China as a Catalyst: The fast pace of Chinese automakers is a primary driver for global change, pushing the industry toward “AI-defined mobility” and the integration of edge AI models. Notably, over 20 OEMs integrated DeepSeek within weeks of its release.
• The “Software Factory”: Industry leaders like Alwin Bakkenes emphasized that profitability in the electric vehicle sector requires extreme process optimization. This is being achieved through “Software Factories”—modern development concepts where source code is integrated with digital twins for virtual testing and exploration.
• Hardware Innovation: To control AI workloads, OEMs are increasingly designing their own chips and moving toward 2nd Generation Zonal Architectures, such as the one powering the upcoming Volvo EX60.

The message from VECS 2026 is certain: for the automotive industry to thrive, it must embrace a “machine that builds the machine” philosophy, prioritizing high-performance computing and seamless software integration.