In this episode of Mainframe Voices, we explore the role of AI as a 24/7 mentor for the next generation of mainframers—and ask what parts of mainframe technology can only truly be learned from people.
Our guests:
Rishi Misra – Advisory Software Developer at IBM Canada
Niall Ashley – Technical consultant at vertali
Germanas Šamrickis – Senior Software Engineer at Rocket Software
Bruno Laurent – MVS Production Engineer at Euroclear
AI as a learning partner
AI can help explain commands, architectures, and programming concepts. It can also support troubleshooting and help newcomers get up to speed with unfamiliar technology.
But learning the mainframe is not only about finding technically correct answers. It is also about understanding which solution is right for a particular situation.
The value of experience
Our guests discuss the engineering judgment that develops through real-world experience. Lessons learned from customers, production incidents, mistakes, and crisis situations often provide context that cannot be found in documentation or generated by AI.
They also explore the importance of mentorship and tribal knowledge. Some decisions in long-running systems were never formally documented, and understanding why certain code or processes exist may require conversations with the people who have worked with them over time.
The episode also looks at the value of visual learning and practical demonstrations. Showing how a system works can sometimes be more effective than simply describing it.
AI and human expertise
The discussion does not present AI and human experience as alternatives. Instead, it highlights how they can work together: AI can support learning and problem-solving, while people provide context, judgment, mentorship, and guidance.
“Mainframe Voices was created to showcase diverse perspectives within the mainframe community,” says Rahat, producer and host of the Mainframe Voices series. “In this episode, we’re exploring how AI can support the next generation of mainframers while recognizing the knowledge that still comes from human experience.”
Watch the full episode to hear our guests reflect on AI, mentorship, tribal knowledge, and the human side of learning mainframe technology.
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