AI is changing the way software gets built but according to Mubashir Cheema, CTO of Corellian Software, the real story is not replacement. It is augmentation.

In this episode of On The Fringe, Anne Larson sits down with Cheema to talk about how AI tools are reshaping software development, why small teams may have the most to gain, and what it actually means to become an AI-first company.

From GitHub Copilot and agentic AI to prompting, guardrails, product design, and the future of work, Cheema breaks down how developers are using AI to move faster, solve bigger problems, and focus less on repetitive work and more on creativity, judgment, and communication.

The conversation also explores the difference between adding “AI sparkle” and building tools that genuinely help users, especially in complex software environments like EPR Live.

Tune in to this episode as we explore:

(01:39) Meet Mubashar Cheema and the small-team advantage

(02:22) The AI tool that changed software development

(07:00) From writing code by hand to working in plain English

(13:18) Why prompting is a skill — and why AI takes practice

(18:36) AI, jobs, and why humans still need to stay in the loop

(25:28) Agentic AI, skills, and building better guardrails

(36:19) The difference between useful AI and “AI sparkle”

(01:01:00) What it really means to be an AI-first company

(01:12:08) Where to start if you want to use AI at work

Have feedback or guest ideas? Email us at onthefringe@corelliansoft.com

Learn more at www.eprlive.com

• (00:01:39) - Meet Mubashar Cheema: AI, Software, and Small-Team Advantage
• (00:02:22) - The AI Tool That Changed Software Development
• (00:07:00) - From Writing Code by Hand to Working in Plain English
• (00:13:18) - Prompting as a Skill: Why AI Takes Practice
• (00:18:36) - AI, Jobs, and Why Humans Stay in the Loop
• (00:25:28) - Agentic AI, Skills, and Guardrails for Better Work
• (00:36:19) - Beyond the AI Sparkle: Building Tools That Actually Help
• (01:01:00) - What It Means to Be an AI-First Company

Recorded live at the IBEW 5th District Progress Meeting in New Orleans, this episode captures the voices from business managers, presidents, and organizers across Mississippi and Louisiana locals. From life-changing career opportunities to retirement education challenges, these leaders share what matters most in their daily work serving IBEW members.

Tune in to this episode as we explore:

(00:07) Why these progress meetings shape real lives

(02:40) How the IBEW changed a military veteran's life

(04:26) Making sure job sites meet proper safety standards

(05:47) Getting the lights back on when disaster strikes

(07:03) Improving livelihoods one member at a time

(07:47) Bringing non-union workers into the fold

(09:20) The messy reality of traveling and reciprocity

(11:29) What keeps this industry running on trust

Links mentioned in the episode:

IBEW 5th District Progress Meeting

Have feedback or guest ideas? Email us at onthefringe@corelliansoft.com

Learn more at www.eprlive.com

Recorded at the 2026 IBEW-NECA Employee Benefits Conference, this episode weaves together insights from leaders across labor and management on healthcare, mental health, rising drug costs, and supporting today’s workforce. From apprenticeships to recovery programs, these rapid-fire perspectives reveal how benefits shape real lives.

Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(00:07) Why benefits must show up on time
(00:55) Defusing conflict and normalising mental health
(03:07) Do younger workers fully understand their benefits?
(04:02) Healthcare costs and the 10-10-10 rule for perspective
(05:23) Should healthcare be for profit?
(06:07) The primary care gap no one talks about
(07:54) Instant benefits verification for contractors
(09:14) Tackling addiction and stigma in the trades
(11:31) The fight for affordable prescriptions
(11:56) Apprenticeships as a career launchpad

Links mentioned in the episode:
IBEW-NECA Employee Benefits Conference

Have feedback or guest ideas? Email us at onthefringe@corelliansoft.com
Learn more at www.eprlive.com