84% of developers now use AI coding tools — but only 29% trust the accuracy of what those tools produce, down from 40% just a year earlier (Stack Overflow, 2025 Developer Survey, 49,000+ respondents). That gap is giving rise to a new discipline: AI Engineering. From intelligent code generation to automated testing and deployment, the developers who know how to verify, architect around, and responsibly deploy AI output are the ones building more robust, scalable applications.
Join this free webinar on September 11, 2026 from 12 p.m ET to 1 p.m. ET to explore the skills behind AI Engineering, and how AI is changing the way we design, develop, and deploy applications. Whether you're a seasoned developer or new to the field, this session will provide valuable insights into the integration of AI into modern development workflows.
What you will learn:
- AI in the development lifecycle: Understand how AI tools are integrated into various stages of application development, from planning to deployment.
- Intelligent coding assistants: Explore tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude Code, and how they assist in code generation and optimization.
- Automated testing and deployment: Learn about AI-driven testing frameworks and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
- Closing the trust gap: Why 46% of developers now distrust AI output more than they trust it, and the verification and review practices that separate reliable AI-assisted code from risky shortcuts.
- Future trends: Gain insights into emerging standards like MCP and A2A, and how to prepare for the evolving landscape of AI Engineering.
You will also hear about WatSPEED's Back-End and Intelligent Systems Development program, a five-course pathway, and better understand how the program integrates hands-on skill building into your learning experience.
Meet your workshop host
Larry Simon
Back-End and Intelligent Systems Development Program Lead
Larry Simon is an entrepreneur, management consultant, and angel investor, specializing in IT strategy and data analytics. He is the founder and managing director of Inflection Group and has over 30 years of experience advising startups, global corporations, and government institutions.
Larry was previously a partner with Ernst & Young Consulting, their CTO and national director of their strategy and delivery centres. Larry is the lead for the Back-End and Intelligent Systems Development certificate program at WatSPEED, University of Waterloo.
Register to attend the webinar!
Don't miss on this opportunity to meet your course instructor, ask questions, and learn more about what makes this innovative program so unique.
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Learn more about the Back-End and Intelligent Systems Development Certificate
A five-course pathway to building secure, reliable back-end systems with cutting-edge AI tools, expert guidance, and industry gold-standard coding practices.
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Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET
FAQ
Is this webinar free?
Yes. This is a complimentary online workshop offered by WatSPEED at the University
of Waterloo on September 11, 2026.
Who should attend this webinar?
This session is designed for developers, back-end engineers, and technical professionals
who want to understand how AI is changing application development — whether you're
a seasoned developer or new to the field.
What is AI Engineering?
AI Engineering is the emerging discipline of building and deploying software with
AI at its core — combining software engineering fundamentals, back-end architecture,
and the use of AI tools and coding agents throughout the development lifecycle.
Do developers actually trust AI coding tools?
Not entirely, and that gap is the point of this session. Stack Overflow's 2025 Developer
Survey (49,000+ respondents) found 84% of developers now use or plan to use AI tools,
but only 29% trust the accuracy of the output, down from 40% the year before. Knowing
how to verify, architect around, and responsibly deploy AI-generated code is what
separates AI Engineering from simply using a coding assistant.
How is AI changing application development?
AI is being integrated into every stage of application development, from planning
and intelligent code generation to automated testing, CI/CD deployment pipelines,
and ongoing monitoring — improving developer productivity and enabling more robust,
scalable applications.
Do I need prior AI or programming experience to attend?
No prior AI experience is required. Whether you're a seasoned developer or new to
the field, this session is designed to provide valuable insights into integrating
AI into modern development workflows.
What will I learn in this session?
You'll learn how AI fits into the development lifecycle, how intelligent coding assistants
like GitHub Copilot and Claude Code support code generation and optimization, how
AI-driven testing and CI/CD pipelines work, why developer trust in AI output is falling
even as adoption rises, and emerging trends shaping the future of software engineering.
What is the difference between a back-end developer and an AI engineer?
A back-end developer focuses on building the server-side logic, databases, and infrastructure
behind an application. An AI engineer builds on those same back-end fundamentals while
also applying AI tools, models, and coding agents to build, automate, and scale intelligent
systems.
What are MCP and A2A, and why do they matter for AI Engineering?
Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent2Agent (A2A) are open standards that let AI
agents reliably use tools and coordinate with each other across systems. As of August
2026, both are governed together under the new Agentic AI Foundation (Linux Foundation),
backed by over 100 companies — a sign of how quickly this infrastructure is being
standardized for real production use.
Is this webinar recorded?
Yes. A recording will be shared with registered participants after the session.
How long is the webinar?
The session will run for approximately 60 minutes, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET on September
11, 2026, including time for audience Q&A.
How do I attend?
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom access link
prior to the event.
Does this webinar relate to a WatSPEED program or course?
Yes. This webinar introduces concepts covered in WatSPEED's Back-End and Intelligent
Systems Development certificate, a five-course pathway covering Coding Agents, Back-End
Frameworks and Architecture, Security, Database Design and Concurrency, Cloud Services,
and Agentic AI.
What skills are needed for a career in AI Engineering?
In-demand AI Engineering skills include back-end frameworks and architecture, cloud
services, database and security fundamentals, and applied experience with AI coding
agents and large language model tools — plus the judgment to verify and validate AI-generated
output rather than accept it at face value.
How do I continue learning after this session?
You can continue your learning through WatSPEED's Back-End and Intelligent Systems
Development certificate, which provides structured, applied training aligned with
industry needs, including a course shared with WatSPEED's AI Certificate: Agentic
AI.