Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Mainframe modernization is hard: there's a huge amount of complexity that needs to be understood before it can be effectively addressed. Generative AI, however, can be a particularly powerful tool for understanding mainframe legacy codebases, something we've been exploring with Mechanical Orchard while working together on its Imogen modernization platform.

In this episode of the Technology Podcast, hosts Ken Mugrage and Alexey Boas are joined by Thoughtworks CTO Rachel Laycock and Mechanical Orchard CEO and Founder Rob Mee to discuss the partnership between the two organizations. They discuss how the collaboration began, the challenges of leveraging generative AI tools for such risky projects and what the wider implications are for AI in software engineering. Listen for a fresh perspective on both legacy modernization and generative AI.

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Thoughtworks is a global technology consultancy that delivers extraordinary impact by blending design, engineering and AI expertise.

Learn more about Thoughtworks' partnership with Mechanical Orchard: thoughtworks.com/about-us/partnerships/technology/mechanical-orchard

Read more about our work on mainframe modernization:
thoughtworks.com/en-in/clients/mainframe-modernization-ai

Read the full transcript here:
thoughtworks.com/insights/podcasts/technology-podcasts/accelerating-mainframe-modernization-generative-ai