Alastair Cooke explores the nascent stage of AI development following a delegate discussion at AI Field Day 6. The panel emphasized that while significant progress has been made, the technological journey is still in its early phases. They also discussed various advancements and challenges in the AI field, underscoring the potential and limitations currently faced by the industry. For more insights and detailed analysis, watch Techstrong AI.
AI Innovation Inevitably Drives Massive Energy Consumption
In this article, Stephen Foskett examines the significant rise in energy demand directly correlated with advances in artificial intelligence technologies. He highlights concerns about sustainability and the potential environmental impacts of this trend. Watch for more insights from AI Field Day 6 on Techstrong AI.
AI Innovation Inevitably Drives Massive Energy Consumption
The increasing reliance on technology has led to a surge in energy consumption, raising concerns about sustainability. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, recorded live at AI Field Day in San Jose, California, Jim Czuprynski, Jack Poller, Andy Banta, and Stephen Foskett discuss the challenges of powering data centers and the environmental impact of AI and modern computing. They explore potential solutions, including nuclear power, solar energy, and small modular reactors, while also addressing the issue of heat dissipation from high-density computing. The conversation highlights the need for innovation in energy efficiency, with advancements in semiconductor technology and battery storage playing a crucial role. While concerns about power availability persist, the panel remains optimistic that technological progress and cross-industry collaboration will drive sustainable solutions for the future.
Redefining Enterprise AI Strategies at AI Field Day 6
At AI Field Day 6, industry leaders and innovators gathered to redefine enterprise AI strategies, showcasing cutting-edge developments and practical deployments. The discussions highlighted emerging technologies and provided insights into effectively integrating AI into various business sectors. For more about AI Field Day 6, watch for further articles on Gestalt IT.
How MLPerf Proves AI Client and Storage Performance
Stephen Foskett provides his perspective on how MLCommons MLPerf benchmarks are vital in measuring the performance of AI clients and storage systems. He examines the impact of these benchmarks on understanding and improving client and storage hardware efficiency in AI applications. For additional coverage of AI Field Day 6 by Stephen Foskett, watch his LinkedIn Pulse article feed!
Redefining Enterprise AI Strategies at AI Field Day 6
Stephen Foskett gives a preview of AI Field Day 6, highlighting emerging trends and strategies in enterprise AI that are shaping the industry. Presentations will include Broadcom, which is exploring private AI with VMware, MemVerge, Kamiwaza, and MLCommons. Watch the presentations live on the Tech Field Day website and LinkedIn as well as on Techstrong channels!
AI is the Leading Geopolitical Issue
Artificial Intelligence has risen from a plain technical challenge to become the leading geopolitical issue in 2025. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, recorded in advance of AI Field Day, features Dr. Bob Sutor, Mitch Ashley, and Jim Czuprynski discussing the balkanization of AI globally. We have previously talked about data sovereignty, but AI is a technology seen to have international importance. From raw materials to chipmaking to systems design to model training, every nation wants to control AI. The United States recently introduced the AI Diffusion Framework to control not just access to chips but also sovereignty of the AI models themselves. We are really just starting to develop AI systems with large language models and yet companies and researchers are already recognizing that we need to move beyond words to spatial, temporal, and true understanding of the world. We are on the cusp of the next space race as regions and nations compete to be the center of the AI universe.
Where Does Agentic AI Get Its Reasoning Smarts
In this article for Techstrong AI, Sulagna Saha explores the development of advanced reasoning capabilities in Agentic AI, focusing on how these systems acquire and refine their intelligent decision-making processes. She investigates the sources and techniques employed in training AI to simulate human-like reasoning, questioning the implications for future technology. This article was inspired by a talk on agentic AI given by Stephen Foskett during AI Data Infrastructure Field Day 1.
AI Chatbots – A Chatty Companion or a Sneaky Trap?
In a recent analysis following an AI Field Day delegate roundtable, Sulagna Saha explores the double-edged nature of AI chatbots, assessing their benefits as efficient virtual assistants versus their risks as potential privacy invaders. Saha critically examines the mechanisms behind these AI systems, how they interact with user data, and the implications for personal privacy and security. For comprehensive insights into AI Field Day 5, check out more articles by Sulagna Saha on Techstrong AI.
Automation Will Change Our Socio-Economic Canvas. But Can It Assure Economic Well-being?
Sulagna Saha explores the socio-economic implications of automation, questioning whether advancements in technology can guarantee economic well-being for all. She discusses the potential benefits and challenges posed by increased automation in various sectors. This article was based on a delegate roundtable discussion at Cloud Field Day 21. For further insights, check out more articles by Sulagna Saha on Gestalt IT.
Techstrong Gang – December 18, 2024
Stephen Foskett provides an in-depth analysis of the presentations and technological showcases at Tech Field Day during his December 18 appearance on Techstrong Gang. He focuses on the innovative uses of artificial intelligence in enterprise technologies, which were highlighted during the event. For additional insights and coverage on Tech Field Day, watch Stephen Foskett’s regular appearances on Techstrong Gang.
Technology Silos Are a Thing of the Past
Enterprise IT has long been divided into silos. This is because of scarce resources and specialized knowledge required to perform some IT operations tasks. The world of today is much more focused on outcomes and the need for silos is waning. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Stephen Foskett, Alastair Cooke, and Tom Hollingsworth discuss how enterprise IT has moved away from silos due to increased resource availability and cross training. They also look ahead to new challenges from advances like AI and quantum computing.
Southworks – AppDev Field Day – KubeCon @cncf 2024
During AppDev Field Day 2 at KubeCon 2024, Jon Myer explored SOUTHWORKS’ innovative approach to application development, which they term “development on demand.” Unlike conventional system integrators, SOUTHWORKS offers scoped projects with a flat-fee pricing structure, emphasizing knowledge transfer to minimize customer dependencies for future modifications. Their approach, likened to a “SWAT team” for software tasks, such as app development and migrations, was well received by delegates. Attendees particularly valued how SOUTHWORKS harnesses sophisticated cloud functionalities and facilitates cloud-to-cloud mobility, effectively addressing prevalent challenges in the industry. Their strategy of offering scalable engineering resources was noted for its potential to significantly enhance organizational efficiency and flexibility in software development efforts.
Company Acquisitions are a Necessary Evil in Enterprise Tech
The IT industry’s reliance on acquisitions is a necessary driver of innovation, though they often seem to get in the way of competition and progress. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, recorded during Cloud Field Day 21, features Ray Lucchesi, Jon Hildebrand, Ken Nalbone, and Stephen Foskett considering whether acquisitions in the IT industry are a necessary evil or a detriment to innovation. Acquisitions are often seen as a double-edged sword, with both positive and negative implications. On one hand, acquisitions can fuel innovation by providing smaller companies with the resources and market access they need to scale their ideas. On the other hand, they can stifle competition, lead to cultural clashes, and sometimes result in the disappearance of promising technologies or products.
There’s a Gulf Between Storage and AI
There is a significant gap between storage companies and their ability to effectively support AI infrastructure. In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, recorded during the AI Data Infrastructure Field Day 1 in Santa Clara, host Stephen Foskett and guests Kurtis Kemple, Brian Booden, and Rohan Puri explore the evolving relationship between storage and AI. The discussion highlights a significant gap between storage companies’ current capabilities and the demands of AI applications. While storage vendors are pivoting to support AI, many lack deep AI expertise, often focusing on cost and efficiency rather than offering integrated, AI-specific solutions. The panel emphasizes the need for storage companies to move beyond being mere data repositories and instead develop end-to-end solutions that address AI workflows, data preparation, and metadata management. They also stress the importance of education, partnerships, and hiring AI specialists to bridge the knowledge gap and drive innovation. The conversation underscores the early stage of this convergence, with a call for clearer strategies, open standards, and more cohesive integration between storage and AI to meet the growing demands of data-driven applications.
Building A Truly Cloud-Agnostic Multi-Cloud Solution with Southworks
Stephen Foskett explores the development of genuinely cloud-agnostic multi-cloud solutions in partnership with Southworks, emphasizing the complexities and innovative practices needed to achieve effective interoperability among various cloud services. He considers the technical strategies and architectural considerations essential for businesses aiming to optimize their IT infrastructure while maintaining flexibility across multiple cloud platforms. Read more coverage of AppDev Field Day 2 on LinkedIn Pulse, and watch the presentation videos now!
Techstrong Gang – November 19, 2024
In the November 19, 2024 episode of Techstrong Gang, hosts Alan Shimel, Bonnie Schneider, and Stephen Foskett review highlights from the recent AppDev Field Day 2 at KubeCon, as well as insights from an article indicating that DevOps engineers are advancing to management roles more quickly than their peers in IT. In the first section, Foskett discusses the presentations by SOUTHWORKS, Heroku, and Codiac, placing them in context with the overall DevOps and Platform Engineering space and giving more details on what was discussed. Watch Stephen Foskett on Techstrong Gang every Tuesday!
AI Doesn’t Make App Dev Any Better
Generative AI is transforming many industries where people create content. Software development is no different; AI agents are in almost every development platform. But is AI improving application development and software quality? This episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast looks at some of the issues revolving around AI and App Dev with Alastair Cooke, Guy Currier, Jack Poller, and Stephen Foskett. The ultimate objective of a software development team is to deliver an application that fulfills a business need and helps the organization be more successful. An AI that can recommend basic code snippets doesn’t move that needle far. More sophistication is needed to get value from AI in the development process. The objective should be to have AI handle the repetitive tasks and allow humans to focus on innovative tasks where generative AI is less capable. AI agents must handle building tests and reviewing code for security and correctness to enable developers to concentrate on building better applications that help organizations.
Exploring the Future of App Development at AppDev Field Day from KubeCon and CloudNativeCon
Stephen Foskett introduces AppDev Field Day at KubeCon and CloudNativeCon in Salt Lake City. In addition to attending sessions and briefings, the Tech Field Day delegates will hear presentations by Heroku, Southworks, and Codiac.
Platform9 Launches Private Cloud Director
On the Gestalt IT Rundown, Stephen Foskett reported on Platform9’s release of their new product, Private Cloud Director. This solution provides enterprises with a seamless way to manage private cloud resources, aiming to simplify cloud infrastructure operations. Private Cloud Director is positioned to enhance scalability and provide robust management tools for diverse IT environments. Watch this video, inspired by Platform9’s presentation at Cloud Field Day 21, to learn more!