Code To Cloud Presents:

Most developers don’t realize how close we are to running powerful, personalized AI models locally without sacrificing privacy, performance, or control.

If you’re frustrated with oversized cloud models, rising costs, or AI systems flooding the internet with low‑quality content, this episode offers a grounded perspective on what’s possible today.

Kevin Evans sits down with Chris Williams, AWS Hero and Field CTO at Six Feet Up, to explore the future of local AI, open‑source tooling, and ethical development.

Chris shares how he moved from traditional data centers to building AI systems that support real societal needs, including climate research, healthcare, and disaster prediction.

They discuss how smaller, smarter models can run on everyday hardware, from a MacBook Pro to a single server, eliminating cloud dependency and reducing environmental impact.

You’ll hear how a small AI dev shop helped NASA detect lightning strikes within 200 feet, why massive models are often overhyped, and how open‑source projects like OpenCode are reshaping local development.

The conversation covers the AI hype cycle, security concerns, deepfakes, and the ethics of autonomous systems, along with practical advice for building your own local AI setup.

This episode is ideal for developers, cloud professionals, and anyone interested in building AI that is efficient, ethical, and genuinely useful.

Kevin and Chris offer a balanced view of AI’s potential to improve healthcare, fight climate change, and empower individual creators when used responsibly.

Guest Bio: Chris Williams is an AWS Hero and the first Field CTO at Six Feet Up, recognized for his work in cloud architecture, AI ethics, and community‑driven technology education.

Most fintech startups dream of building a bank, but Neo Financial is redefining what’s possible by starting in the cloud.

In this episode of the Code to Cloud podcast, host Kevin Evans sits down with Fahad Zaidi, Director of Software Development at Neo Financial, to discuss how a Calgary startup scaled into one of Canada’s most ambitious digital banks using a tech-first, customer-focused approach.

Fahad shares how Neo Financial built a cloud-native platform designed for speed, scalability, and innovation without the limitations of legacy banking systems. The conversation explores how modern engineering practices, strong developer experience, and disciplined execution allow Neo to serve millions of customers while continuously evolving its products.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Neo Financial built its banking platform using cloud-native infrastructure and microservices architecture How the team reduced developer onboarding from weeks to hours Balancing innovation with compliance, regulation, and security requirements How partnerships with established financial institutions enable rapid fintech growth The role of AI and automation in fraud detection, personalization, and customer experience Why a customer-obsessed mindset is central to Neo’s long-term vision

This episode is ideal for fintech founders, engineering leaders, software developers, and technology enthusiasts interested in modern banking, cloud architecture, and large-scale software systems.

Host Kevin Evans https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinevans01

Guest Fahad Zaidi https://www.linkedin.com/in/fahadzaidi/

Code to Cloud Podcast https://codetocloud.io

If you’re interested in building faster, smarter, and more customer-centric financial platforms, this conversation offers practical insights into what it takes to challenge established banking models and build the future of finance.