Farewell, Automattic ![rw-book-cover](https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/images/article0.00998d930354.png) ## Metadata - Author: [[Andy Peatling]] - Full Title: Farewell, Automattic - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: - #AI - #Entrepreneurship - #WordPress - #OpenSource - #CareerTransition Author: Andy Peatling Source: [Farewell, Automattic](https://apeatling.com/articles/farewell-automattic/) Reference: [Farewell, Automattic](https://apeatling.com/articles/farewell-automattic/) date created: 2025-06-17 13:22 --- # Farewell, Automattic: Andy Peatling’s Next Chapter ## Table of Contents - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#-notes) - [📖 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-assessment) - [✅ Logical validity](#-logical-validity) - [🔍 DARVO Analysis Prompt](#-darvo-analysis-prompt) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#-seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) --- ## 📝 Summary Andy Peatling bids a fond farewell to Automattic after 17 years, reflecting on his journey from a small team of 20 to a global organization of nearly 2,000. In his last two years, he dove deep into the wild world of AI application development, witnessing rapid advances and the democratization of powerful models. Andy’s excited to return to entrepreneurship, eager to build new products, experiment with agentic systems, and share his lessons along the way—inviting others to join the adventure. --- ## 📖 Main Content Andy’s post is equal parts gratitude letter, tech state-of-the-union, and rallying cry for builders. Seventeen years at Automattic saw him help scale the company, shape engineering and product strategy, and—most recently—ride the AI rollercoaster. He marvels at how foundation models are getting cheaper and smarter, shifting developer focus toward creative problem-solving while AI automates the boring bits. The result? Software that’s more intuitive, context-aware, and user-centric than ever before. Andy’s especially jazzed about agentic systems and standards like A2A, which open up possibilities that were pure science fiction just a year ago. He’s committed to sharing his learnings, launching new products, and keeping the community in the loop. If you like your tech with a side of curiosity and a dash of optimism, Andy’s next chapter is worth following. --- ### 🗒️ Notes - **Career Transition** - Andy Peatling leaves Automattic after 17 years. - Helped grow Automattic from 20 to almost 2,000 people. - Shifting focus back to entrepreneurship. - **AI and Software Development** - Last two years: focused on AI application layer. - Noted rapid, almost-daily evolution in AI. - Foundation models: smarter, more affordable. - AI now handles routine coding, debugging, and optimization. - Developers can focus on product direction and higher-level problem solving. - Users expect software that understands context and adapts in real time. - **Opportunities Ahead** - AI is transforming what’s possible in product development. - Excitement about agentic systems and A2A standards. - Plans to build, share learnings, and invite community participation. - **Community Engagement** - Will announce new products and early betas. - Invites readers to sign up for updates. --- ## 📖 References - [Farewell, Automattic · Andy Peatling](https://apeatling.com/articles/farewell-automattic/) - [Andy Peatling’s LinkedIn](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/apeatling) - [WordPress Profile](https://profiles.wordpress.org/apeatling/) --- ## 🗣 Paraphrase **Original:** "Yesterday was my first day back in the world of entrepreneurship. After seventeen wonderful years at Automattic, I resigned last Friday to begin this new chapter. During my time there, I helped grow the company from twenty to almost two thousand people through significant engineering and product development roles. I’m grateful for every moment of that journey." **Paraphrased:** Just yesterday, I returned to the entrepreneurial fold, having wrapped up a 17-year journey at Automattic. From the early days with just 20 folks to a bustling company of nearly 2,000, my roles in engineering and product were a privilege—and I’m thankful for every moment. --- **Original:** "In my final two years at Automattic, I was deeply embedded in the application layer of AI development. It was a wild ride to say the least. The landscape is changing almost daily. There have been incredible improvements in foundation models and their ability to comprehend, orchestrate, and reason. The costs are driving towards zero, opening up greater opportunities to harness their power and offer unique value." **Paraphrased:** My last two years at Automattic were spent knee-deep in AI application work—a whirlwind of constant change. Foundation models have become astonishingly capable and affordable, making it easier than ever to tap into their potential and create genuinely innovative products. --- ## 📰 Newsletter **Blurb:** Big news in the WordPress and open-source world: Andy Peatling, a cornerstone of Automattic and the mind behind BuddyPress, is embarking on a new entrepreneurial adventure after 17 years! In his farewell, Andy reflects on the rocket-speed evolution of AI—where models are smarter, cheaper, and letting developers focus on creative magic while AI handles the grunt work. With agentic systems and A2A standards on his radar, Andy’s next act promises to be a front-row seat to the future of AI-powered WordPress innovation. Want early access to his insights and products? Sign up for updates and stay tuned for more open-source community highlights, plugin picks, and the latest on the future of web development. The next chapter is already being written! --- ## ✅ Action Items - **Open Source Advocacy**: Andy’s journey is a case study in scaling open-source organizations and embracing collaborative AI development—perfect inspiration for building sustainable, contributor-driven communities. - **Contributor Engagement**: Inviting the community to join his next steps and test new products is a blueprint for onboarding and nurturing open-source contributors. - **Education**: Sharing learnings and product insights aligns with the spirit of open, accessible tech education for all skill levels. - **Sustainable Funding & Inclusivity**: Andy’s entrepreneurial, community-first approach underscores the need for funding models that support diverse, inclusive open-source growth. - **Career Alignment**: For aspiring OSPO directors, Andy’s path blends technical leadership, community building, and educational outreach—an ideal model for the future of open source. --- ## 🧪 Hypotheses - AI-powered agentic systems will turbocharge innovation in open-source communities. - Cheaper, smarter AI will broaden access, drawing in a more diverse contributor base. - Real-time, adaptive software will become standard, raising the bar for both users and developers. ### 📊 Methodology - **Data Sources**: Track open-source project adoption and contributor stats pre- and post-AI tool integration. - **Research Designs**: Combine developer surveys, repo analytics, and case studies of agentic systems. - **Analysis Techniques**: Use stats to spot trends, interviews for nuance, and compare projects with and without AI integration. ### ❓ Questions - How do agentic AI systems reshape open-source contributor roles? - What new hurdles and opportunities emerge for onboarding in an AI-augmented world? - How can open-source projects ensure ethical, inclusive AI adoption? ### 🔮 Future Research - Long-term impact of AI tools on project health and contributor diversity. - Best practices for weaving agentic systems into open-source workflows. - Sustainable funding models for open-source AI initiatives. ### 💡 Implications - Sharpening our understanding of AI’s role in open source can shape better governance, contributor experience, and community growth. - Insights c - Summary: Yesterday was my first day back in the world of entrepreneurship. After seventeen wonderful years at Automattic, I resigned last Friday to begin this new chapter. During my time there,… - URL: https://apeatling.com/articles/farewell-automattic/ ![](https://apeatling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-16-at-9.25.49 AM.png) Yesterday was my first day back in the world of entrepreneurship. After seventeen wonderful years at [Automattic](http://automattic.com), I resigned last Friday to begin this new chapter. During my time there, I helped grow the company from twenty to almost two thousand people through significant engineering and product development roles. I’m grateful for every moment of that journey. In my final two years at Automattic, I was deeply embedded in the application layer of AI development. It was a wild ride to say the least. The landscape is changing almost daily. There have been incredible improvements in foundation models and their ability to comprehend, orchestrate, and reason. The costs are driving towards zero, opening up greater opportunities to harness their power and offer unique value. This change is transforming software development, AI is fundamentally shifting how we build products. Developers can now focus on higher-level problem solving and product direction while AI handles routine coding tasks, debugging, and optimization. Users are beginning to expect their software to understand context, anticipate needs, and adapt to their workflows in real-time. These fundamental changes represent an incredible moment to build. We can create experiences that simply would not have been possible a year or two ago. I’ve already been blown away by the potential of single and multi-agent systems using emerging standards like [A2A](https://google-a2a.github.io/A2A/latest/). I’m ready to dedicate my time here and discover what’s possible. As I progress through this journey, I’ll be sharing my personal learnings along the way, as well as announcing new products as they become ready for early beta testing and release. If that’s something you’re interested in drop your email below and I’ll keep you updated. #### Get the Latest I'll send you the latest in my journey to build products with AI, agents, and the latest standards like A2A and MCP. I won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time., Farewell, Automattic, Andy Peatling, 01jxzehjd53fc00ey2aq3r46c3.