Gergely Orosz is a technology journalist, author, and software engineer known for his coverage of the software engineering industry and, more recently, the artificial intelligence sector. He is the author of the popular newsletter and blog The Pragmatic Engineer, which analyzes engineering practices, company cultures, and technological trends. Orosz's work has made him a prominent commentator on the inner workings of major technology companies and the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Orosz spent over a decade as a software engineer, working at companies including Skype, Microsoft, and Uber. This engineering background informs his analytical approach, allowing him to provide technical depth that is often absent from mainstream tech journalism. His transition to writing was marked by the launch of The Pragmatic Engineer in 2020, which quickly gained a substantial following among software professionals.
The Pragmatic Engineer Newsletter
The Pragmatic Engineer began as a Substack newsletter in 2020 and has grown into one of the most influential publications in the software engineering space. As of 2024, the newsletter has over 500,000 subscribers. Orosz publishes in-depth articles on topics such as engineering management, system design, and the operational realities of large-scale software systems. He has conducted detailed interviews with engineers and leaders at companies like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and OpenAI. The newsletter is known for its data-driven approach, often including salary surveys and analyses of engineering career paths.
Coverage of AI Infrastructure
In 2023 and 2024, Orosz shifted significant attention to the AI industry, particularly the infrastructure layer that powers Large language models. His reporting has covered the business and technical challenges of companies like NVIDIA (though not in the provided list, he covers similar firms), AMD, and Intel, as well as cloud providers such as Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. He has written extensively about the economics of AI compute, including the costs of training and inference, and the role of specialized hardware like AWS Trainium and Cerebras. His articles often include specific figures, such as the power consumption of AI data centers and the unit economics of GPU clusters.
Focus on AI Companies and Startups
Orosz has profiled numerous AI startups and established players, providing analysis of their technical architectures and business models. He has covered companies like Anthropic, Inflection AI, and AI21 Labs, as well as infrastructure providers like Coreweave and Groq. His reporting on OpenAI has included detailed breakdowns of their engineering organization and deployment strategies. He has also analyzed the competitive dynamics between OpenAI and Google DeepMind, and the strategic moves of Apple, Samsung Electronics, and TSMC in the AI chip market.
Public Speaking and Media Appearances
Beyond writing, Orosz is a sought-after speaker at technology conferences and has appeared on numerous podcasts and webinars. He has given talks on engineering culture, technical leadership, and the future of AI infrastructure. His insights are frequently cited in mainstream technology press, including outlets like The Verge and TechCrunch. He maintains an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, where he engages with his audience and shares his latest analyses.
Impact and Reception
Orosz's work is widely respected for its rigor and independence. He is known for his willingness to publish contrarian views, such as his critiques of overhyped AI claims and his emphasis on the practical challenges of deploying AI at scale. His newsletter has become a primary source for engineers and executives seeking to understand the real-world implications of AI technology. His reporting on the AI infrastructure boom has been particularly influential, helping to demystify the complex supply chain of chips, data centers, and cloud services that underpin the modern AI industry.