Machine learning expert on the 3 skills that matter most in the AI age with Chelsea Troy

As AI reshapes how software is built, what does it actually mean to be a good engineer?

Chelsea Troy, who leads Machine Learning Operations at Mozilla and teaches computer science at the University of Chicago, argues that the future of engineering isn’t about typing faster but thinking better.

In this episode of Distributed, Chelsea joins host Jack Hannah to unpack the three skillsets that matter most in the age of AI: investigative, evaluative, and innovative thinking. She explains why AI tools still fall short in areas that require human reasoning and judgment, how engineers can uplevel the skills that set them apart, and why collaboration and a solid grounding in computer science remain essential.

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Where to find Chelsea Troy:

• Website: https://chelseatroy.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseatroy

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Where to find Jack Hannah:

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-hannah/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tuple.app/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:08) The 3 most underrated skillsets engineers rely on every day

(08:45) How an interpreter workshop and a Rust compiler project revealed AI’s limits

(14:59) How to level up investigative, evaluative, and innovative skills

(21:25) Why collaboration still matters but isn’t a new challenge created by AI

(25:38) The value of early career pair programming and why it’s hard but worth it

(29:09) Why pairing with an LLM has value but can’t replace human collaboration

(34:33) Formal CS degrees vs. nontraditional paths and why studying CS still matters

(43:49) Rapid fire round

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Referenced:

• What can we expect of LLMs as Software Engineers?: https://chelseatroy.com/2025/07/14/what-can-we-expect-of-llms-as-software-engineers

• Bob Nystrom’s blog: https://journal.stuffwithstuff.com/

• Tim Peters: https://github.com/tim-one

• Crafting Interpreters: https://craftinginterpreters.com

• Using the Python Interpreter: https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/interpreter.html

• Alan Turing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing

• Ada Lovelace: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace