The Learning Curve

AI is changing how we write code and how fast our websites load. But it won't measure, prioritize, or optimize any of it for you.

In this episode, hosts Matt Sharp and Holly Fake sit down with full-stack engineer Ethan Gardner to talk Core Web Vitals, why AI-generated code is quietly getting heavier and slower even as it ships faster, and what it takes to get cited by AI search tools rather than skipped over. Ethan also walks through a live demo using AI-assisted debugging in Chrome DevTools to diagnose a real performance issue in seconds.

Alongside the technical work, Ethan shares how he's paired an LLM with a traditional career coach, one of many AI productivity tools for work now reshaping how people think about growth, to figure out what parts of his work are truly bringing him fulfillment and where he'd been spending energy that wasn't serving him.

Two very different problems with the same lesson: AI can move fast, but it still takes a person to decide what's worth optimizing.

00:00 Introduction
01:06 Using AI as a career coach 
07:15 Core Web Vitals, explained 
10:54 Performance as a proxy for the bottom line 
12:59 Why AI-generated code is getting heavier 
21:26 Testing in CI/CD vs. the real world
28:53 Live demo: AI-assisted debugging 
34:52 Key takeaways

Subscribe to the Learning Curve for real conversations about AI at work, AI implementation, and what it actually looks like to build with AI inside a technology company.

What is The Learning Curve?

The Learning Curve is Flexion’s podcast about navigating change in complex systems — one decision at a time. Each episode explores how organizations can harness technologies like AI not just to follow trends, but to drive measurable impact.

In this season, we’re exploring:

-How real teams are building trust and transparency with AI
-The practical realities of enterprise AI adoption
-Lessons learned from Flexion’s own journey, experimenting with and scaling AI

This isn’t hype. It’s an inside look at the mindset, structure, and strategy needed to lead in an era of continuous change.