To understand the context, we need to go back one year, to the stage of the tenth edition of Voxxed Days Ticino, when Devoxx founder Stephan Janssen delivered a message that resonated through the hall of the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano like a warning: “Dear developers, either you learn how to use artificial intelligence, or sooner or later it will replace you.” A blunt and uncompromising statement that caused some bewilderment among attendees, yet at the same time proved prescient in light of the rapid technological evolution now underway. It also reflects the ever-present challenge–opportunity dichotomy, where opportunity truly exists only for those able to seize it.
Stephan Janssen on stage at Voxxed Days Ticino 2025
One year on, this is the image that remains most vivid in the mind of Federico Yankelevich, organizer of Voxxed Days Ticino: “Stephan’s words were prophetic, but not in a negative sense. We see it every day: it is hard to compete with such a powerful tool, at least when it comes to simple or repetitive tasks. And it is precisely for these activities that we can leverage AI, freeing ourselves to focus on more complex aspects. Software development has by now become an industry with its own regulations, and in this context AI can also help ensure compliance and support the production of documentation. In short, we need to keep up and, for some, change their approach - knowing that for both companies and developers, the ongoing transformation can be an opportunity to reposition themselves, without stopping investment in human capital, which is exactly what will make the difference tomorrow.”
It is therefore no coincidence that just over twelve months after Janssen’s intervention, Kevlin Henney will take the stage at Voxxed Days Ticino in Lugano. A developer, software architect, and author, Henney has been recognized over the past forty years as one of the most authoritative voices in software engineering, thanks to a perspective strongly focused on people rather than on technological tools.
A vision in which communication, design, and responsibility are not secondary concerns, but the very core of programming - principles that are becoming increasingly central in the face of a growing automation of the industry, where AI accelerates execution but cannot replace human judgment.
“Throughout the history of computing, Henney has left his mark time and again, always staying in step with the times,” continues Federico Yankelevich. “As a developer, he has consistently emphasized the importance of how code is written: it should be elegant, easy to maintain, and robust - not as a matter of style, but as an act of responsibility. These are concepts we ourselves have often reiterated over the past ten years, and ones we want to emphasize in this particular historical moment, with a critical approach to our own work.”
Along the same lines, the organizers’ decision to double the number of talks dedicated to cybersecurity should be understood.
“It is a globally relevant issue. Software development has grown rapidly and extensively; at the same pace, cyberattacks have increased. We want to shine a light on this topic by raising awareness of potential software vulnerabilities. Breaches are often hidden in small details that can easily escape a developer’s attention. By delegating part of the work to AI, developers risk losing even more visibility over these critical points, with all the consequences that entails. We are dealing with a technology that is still relatively young, yet undeniably complex and wide-ranging. Security must be on everyone’s radar. It felt important to remind people of this aspect as well - one that is anything but secondary.”
To address these emerging themes, Voxxed Days Ticino 2026 will grow slightly in size while remaining true to its roots. “We remain an all-round developer conference, but given the many new AI-related topics, we felt it was important to expand. For the first time, we will also host talks in the main hall of the Palazzo dei Congressi. And I won’t hide the fact that this year we are aiming for a new attendance record,” concludes Federico Yankelevich.