AI and tech revolutions: why we’ve been here before | Jamie Dobson
Thu Jan 08 2026
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham speaks with Jamie Dobson, founder of cloud consultancy Container Solutions and author of Visionaries, Rebels and Machines.
Zoe and Jamie explore how technology really evolves. They discuss why innovation has never been a solo pursuit, why leadership and management matter as much as scientific breakthroughs, and why many of today’s debates around AI echo arguments that have played out before.
Drawing on examples from Edison and Oppenheimer to Amazon and modern cloud platforms, Jamie explains why users, not inventors, ultimately determine how technologies succeed or fail. He also shares practical lessons for today’s technology leaders on building real cloud and AI capability, removing organisational bottlenecks, and navigating periods of rapid change.
Discover
Why technological breakthroughs are built by teams, not lone geniuses
Why leadership and management are central to successful innovation
How cloud computing emerged by removing barriers for developers
Why users shape the future of technology more than its creators
What past technology transitions can teach us about today’s AI moment
Why preparing for AI is fundamentally a people and capability challenge
More
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham speaks with Jamie Dobson, founder of cloud consultancy Container Solutions and author of Visionaries, Rebels and Machines. Zoe and Jamie explore how technology really evolves. They discuss why innovation has never been a solo pursuit, why leadership and management matter as much as scientific breakthroughs, and why many of today’s debates around AI echo arguments that have played out before. Drawing on examples from Edison and Oppenheimer to Amazon and modern cloud platforms, Jamie explains why users, not inventors, ultimately determine how technologies succeed or fail. He also shares practical lessons for today’s technology leaders on building real cloud and AI capability, removing organisational bottlenecks, and navigating periods of rapid change. Discover Why technological breakthroughs are built by teams, not lone geniuses Why leadership and management are central to successful innovation How cloud computing emerged by removing barriers for developers Why users shape the future of technology more than its creators What past technology transitions can teach us about today’s AI moment Why preparing for AI is fundamentally a people and capability challenge