Are engineering leaders asking the wrong questions when deciding what to build?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran talks with Chris Horn, SVP of Operations at Deriv, about what it takes to build AI inside a regulated, global software environment. Chris explains the difference between prototypes and proofs-of-concept, why data architecture is the real unlock, and how Deriv used a Shark-Tank-like model to introduce AI into internal operations. Together, they explore the mindset shift required for AI-native development — and why the most important question isn’t “Can we build it?” but “Should we build it?”

Topics covered include:

• Prototype vs. PoC: Why technical feasibility matters less than solving a real problem.
• AI as product work: The critical role of discovery, KPIs, and iteration in AI projects.
• Data as the foundation: How Deriv built a medallion architecture to get ready for AI.
• Internal AI first: Why customer-facing AI wasn’t the starting point (and what worked instead).
• Upskilling at scale: Building an AI-native culture through curiosity, training, and incentives.

Episode ID: 18501541-from-proof-of-concept-to-product-chris-horn-deriv

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If AI becomes a creator, where do humans bring value to storytelling?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran talks with Sylvain Monterrey, founder and CEO of Animatix, an AI-powered film production platform used by leading advertising agencies and media studios. Sylvain shares his journey from fashion to AI — and explains how the creative production pipeline is being rebuilt on top of foundational models. Together, they explore what AI means for storytelling, why creativity still begins with humans, and how new workflows are transforming not just content creation — but company building itself.

Topics covered include:

• End-to-end creative pipelines in AI: Why the next era isn’t about standalone models — it’s about stitching them together so teams can go from brief to storyboard to finished film in a single workflow.
• AI as co-creator, not replacement: Technical barriers are collapsing, but the creative spark still comes from people — the message, meaning, and emotional arc.
• The rise of enterprise-grade AI filmmaking: Why big studios care about continuity, licensing, and digital actors — and how legal frameworks will shape adoption.
• AI-native organizational design: How team structure, roles, and product velocity change when everyone can build and iterate at real-time speed.
• Real-time personalization and the cultural question: Why “your own version of the movie” is coming — and why it could reshape culture, marketing, and identity.

Episode ID: 18454919-ai-and-the-future-of-creative-work-sylvain-montreuil-animatix

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From Xano - The fastest way to create a production-ready backend for any app or agent. Xano unifies AI speed, code control, and visual clarity, so you never trade reliability for velocity. Sign up for free today.

What does it mean to be a builder in a time when AI can build all on its own?

In this episode of Futureproof, Xano CEO Prakash Chandran sits down with JJ Englert, founder of NoCode Alliance and community and education lead at Softr, creator, teacher, filmmaker-turned-builder, and a major voice in the no-code movement. JJ shares the unlikely journey from roofing to becoming a filmmaker, to finally discovering no-code — and now AI-powered coding. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping what it means to create software, why curiosity is becoming the most important developer skill, and how even seasoned engineers must adapt to avoid “legacy doubt.”

Topics covered include:

• The rise of the AI-literate builder: Why today’s advantage isn’t syntax — it’s understanding architecture, knowing what to ask, and working fluidly with AI as a coding partner.
• From no-code to full-stack with AI: How JJ went from “I don’t think I’m smart enough for this” to building full applications with real code in weeks, powered by no-code and, eventually, AI IDEs.
• The adoption gap inside companies: Why C-suites got excited, then cautious — and how organizations are slowly figuring out their AI-first vs. AI-layered strategies.
• Curiosity as survival skill: How both new makers and veteran engineers need the same thing: the willingness to experiment, learn, and challenge long-held assumptions.
• The future of multimodal computing: From personalized software that builds itself to real-time AR copilots — why the next leap goes far beyond chat.

Episode ID: 18356341-the-new-builder-mindset-jj-englert-nocode-alliance

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From Xano - The fastest way to create a production-ready backend for any app or agent. Xano unifies AI speed, code control, and visual clarity, so you never trade reliability for velocity. Sign up for free today.