Keynote

The Renaissance
Developer

Keynote LeadDr. Werner VogelsAWS re:Invent 2025KEYNOTE

What happens to the craft of building software in the age of AI. The closing keynote of re:Invent 2025.

‹ All work

Inside this work

The Renaissance Developer asked what happens to the craft of building software when AI can write code. Our answer looked less like specialisation and more like the Renaissance: curiosity across disciplines, taste, and judgment mattering more than any single skill.

I led this one from first outline to final rehearsal: the theme, the structure, the guests, the demos, and how it all lands in the room and on the stream.

Production

RoleKeynote Lead
Creative DirectorPatrick Johnson
Program ManagerAarika Ellsworth
SpeakerDr. Werner Vogels
EventAWS re:Invent 2025
VenueThe Venetian, Las Vegas
Opening filmMalka

Backstage

Werner Vogels in front of "The work is yours, not the tool's" The slot machine animation on the big screen Werner Vogels beside a drawing of a developer as Vitruvian Man Werner Vogels in front of "Your best work is hidden" Werner Vogels pointing to a handwritten note: Dear Builders, I'm immensely proud of you Clare Liguori walking on, her name on the screen Clare Liguori on stage in front of her project Werner Vogels in front of the Daft Punk lyric Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Werner Vogels close up, between two pillars of light Werner Vogels in front of "Knowledge transfer" Werner Vogels with two of the keynote team after the show The re:Invent screen over the lobby escalators at Caesars Forum A re:Invent registration desk inside a frame of light at the Venetian The expo hall at the Venetian under the AWS sign Football under the floodlights at re:Play, the last night of re:Invent 2025