During DevSparks Chennai 2025, Rajendran Dandapani, Director of Technology at Zoho, laid out eight key lessons for developers preparing for an AI-first future. He began with two foundational ideas: relax (take time to absorb tech, not just sprint ahead) and don’t rush when complex work demands patience. He also challenged devs to dream hallucination in AI isn’t always a bug if it produces original ideas. 

Another lesson: code with purpose public good must outweigh mere profitability. Aesthetic prototypes can be alluring, but functionality should come first. He warned about blind faith in automation software should serve, not supersede, human intention.

Communication matters: being coherent, asking good questions, clearly expressing impact. Finally, he emphasised ethics, creativity, mindfulness quality of character now equals technical prowess in defining value. Whether building models, designing products or collaborating with teams, these lessons aim to anchor developers in responsibility, depth, and human-centered innovation.