Build the machine that builds the machine

Bill Doerrfeld | December 19, 2025

A shift back to large end-to-end machine learning models

My latest DirectorPlus column with LeadDev interviews Bedrock Robotics' CTO, Kevin Peterson, on what it takes to develop highly adaptable and safe autonomous machines.


Lately, a big shift he's noticed is a move away from many small, purpose-built models toward one end-to-end system that computes its own best representation.


They're putting this to practice in the field — quite literally — developing models that allow excavators to operate autonomously in large-scale construction projects.


Peterson was formerly leading autonomous system development at Waymo and Caterpillar, so he has some really great experience to share, which other AI/ML or robotics experts will appreciate.


Read the post here, and if you're an engineering leader, definitely consider signing up for DirectorPlus for a monthly check-in with an experienced director, VP, or CTO on a new subject!

Read: Hard-won lessons on building and scaling ML models

Other Blog Posts

5 impressive API monetization models

By Bill Doerrfeld • March 19, 2026
Usage-based pricing is reshaping the API economy. Discover 5 API monetization success stories, including OpenAI, Plaid, and AssemblyAI.
A lightbulb against a purple background, containing a human brain with an

Why event-driven APIs matter for AI workflows

By Bill Doerrfeld • March 18, 2026
Why event-driven APIs matter for AI workflows, enabling real-time data, scalable systems, and responsive agent behavior.

Exploring frontier models for physical AI

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 28, 2026
While hardware usually gets the spotlight in physical AI, the real differentiator won't be hardware. It'll be the models.

Workato's internal MCP success story

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 27, 2026
In the latest DirectorPlus, Workato's CTO explains how MCP-enabled integration catalyzed internal AI usage and ROI.

5 official MCP servers from major clouds

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 18, 2026
My latest on InfoWorld reviews MCP servers from 5 major cloud providers

6 agentic knowledge base styles in practice

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 18, 2026
How are organizations actually using agentic knowledge bases in practice? My article for The New Stack looks at six emerging patterns.
eBPF in Production Report

Report: eBPF In Production

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 12, 2026
My report for the eBPF Foundation explores enterprise eBPF case studies, production deployments, and real business outcomes across cloud-native environments.
Close-up of whole bean coffee Bottomless

I’m a fan of Bottomless coffee

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 10, 2026
Longtime Bottomless user sharing why I love automated coffee delivery triggered by a smart scale, plus a referral link for a free first bag.

Tips and tricks to reduce MCP token bloat

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 5, 2026
MCP servers can quickly drain context windows without guardrails. Thankfully, there are ways around this, say the experts.

The state of AI agents in finance

By Bill Doerrfeld • February 4, 2026
It may seem like AI agents are suddenly doing everything across industries. But in reality, the pace of agentic AI is moving carefully, and very deliberately, in highly regulated environments like finance and banking.