We use the word “tokens” in two completely different technological contexts. In cryptocurrency, tokens represent value—coins, assets, ownership rights. In large language models like GPT-4 and Claude, tokens represent computation—the atomic units of text processing that determine API pricing. Both systems independently converged on “tokens” as their fundamental unit of exchange. That linguistic parallel might […]
Author: David Lockie
Tree-hugging, technology-loving, CEO of Pragmatic, music lover, husband, step dad.
Intents All the Way Down
What if the future of design isn’t about interfaces, screens, or even journeys — but about intents? Not tasks.Not steps.Not features. Just: What does the user want to happen? Lately I’ve been noticing a pattern across AI, product design, crypto, and even my own daily life. Everything seems to be collapsing into a single primitive: […]
Web Summit 2024: Orchestration, Flow, and Dynamic Resource Allocation
So yeh. I attended Web Summit in Lisbon again in November 2024, returning to Europe’s largest tech conference. Core Thesis The conference surfaced a consistent pattern: value is shifting from production to orchestration. Whether it’s managing AI agents, allocating attention across workflows, or positioning platforms as trusted intermediaries—the winners will be those who coordinate, not […]
Supersoftware: When Software Becomes Symbolic AI
I had the opportunity to review an academic paper that tackles one of the most pressing challenges in AI right now: LLMs can’t grapple with enterprise software. The paper is called "Supersoftware: Software That Is Itself Symbolic AI" by Philip Sheldrake and Dirk Scheffler. It was published in late November 2025, and I was honored […]
Algarve Tech Summit 2025 – Local Tech Community and AI Agents
So yeh. On November 6-7, 2025, I attended the Algarve Tech Summit at Hotel Vila Galé in Lagos, Portugal. The Algarve isn’t known as a tech hub—it’s famous for beaches, golf, and tourism. But there’s a growing tech and entrepreneurial community here that’s worth engaging with, especially for those of us who work remotely in […]
Who Do The Robots Work For?
I was honoured to give this talk at OSS Summit Amsterdam 2025; thanks to Automattic for the opportunity to represent the company. Tim Berners-Lee recently asked the defining question of our time: “Who Does AI Work For?” As AI systems move from our screens into our physical world—controlling our cars, homes, and cities—this question becomes […]