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In this SSW User Group, Calum Simpson explores why the next leap in AI-assisted development is not just better prompts, but better skills. He explains skills as a cleaner alternative to stuffing context windows with MCP tool definitions, shows how progressive disclosure improves agent performance, and argues that the real goal is to move from manually reviewing AI-generated code to building reliable systems that generate code for us. Along the way, he demos skill creation in Claude Code, compares skills with MCP, shares practical SSW examples like Yak Shaver, Tiger, Cheetah, and Armada, and closes with the human skills that still matter most in an AI-first world.

00:00 | Introduction to “AI: It’s a Skill Issue”
08:54 | From reviewing code to trusting AI systems
09:19 | MCP explained and why context overload matters
13:09 | How skills work with progressive disclosure
14:19 | Live demo: creating a joke skill in Claude Code
23:14 | Skills vs MCP and life before/after skills
28:51 | The vision: autonomous agents working backlog items
41:15 | How to create, improve, and compose skills
57:19 | Fun demo: the “Sealed Room” murder mystery skill game
01:05:24 | Real SSW examples, Armada, and the human skills that still matter

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Get in touch:
Calum Simpson – SSW VP of AI
About: https://www.ssw.com.au/people/calum-s…
LinkedIn:   / calum-simpson-2171bb120  

#AI#AISkills#ClaudeCode#MCP#AgenticAI#SoftwareDevelopment#DeveloperTools#PromptEngineering#Automation#SSWTV#CalumSimpson#TechTalk

V2 – Bahjat

About the speakers

About the speakers

Calum Simpson

Calum is a distinguished enterprise software consultant specialising in Microsoft technologies, including Azure, SharePoint, Dynamics 365/Power Platform, and C# .NET. He also brings a strong proficiency in both Angular and React to his diverse skill set.

Boasting over a decade of experience, Calum has successfully spearheaded web projects across a spectrum of environments, from agile two-person startups to some of the most prominent corporations in Australia.

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