The current hype about building massive generative AI models with massive hardware investment is just one aspect of AI. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features Frederic Van Haren, Karen Lopez, Marian Newsome, and host Stephen Foskett taking a different perspective on the larger world of AI. Our last episode suggested that AI as it is currently being hyped is a fad, but the bigger world of AI is absolutely real. Large language models are maturing rapidly and even generative AI is getting better by the month, but we are rapidly seeing the reality of the use cases for this technology. All neural networks use patterns in historical data to infer results, so any AI engine could hallucinate. But traditional AI is much less susceptible to errors than the much-hyped generative AI models that are capturing the headlines today. AI is a tool that augments our knowledge and decision making, but it doesn’t replace human intelligence. There is a whole world of AI applications that are productive, responsible, and practical, and these are most certainly not a fad.
AI as We Know It is Just a Fad
Although AI is certain to transform society, not to mention computing, what we know if it is unlikely to last much longer. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast brings together Glenn Dekhayser, Alastair Cooke, Allyson Klein, and Stephen Foskett to discuss the real and changing world of AI. Looking at AI infrastructure today, we see massive clusters of GPUs being deployed in the cloud and on-premises to train ever-larger language models, but how much business value do these clusters have long-term? It seems that the true transformation promised by LLM and GenAI will be realized once models are applied across industries with RAG or tuning rather than developing new models. Ultimately AI is a feature of a larger business process or application rather than being a product in itself. We can certainly see that AI-based applications will be transformative, but the vast investment required to build out AI infrastructure to date might never be recouped. Ultimately there is a future for AI, but not the way we have been doing it to date.
5G Factor: Arrcus, T-Mobile, Ericsson Boost 5G Readiness
In this episode of the 5G Factor by The Futurum Group, Ron Westfall and Tom Hollingsworth discuss recent partnerships between Arrcus, T-Mobile, and Ericsson. They highlight pivotal advancements in 5G readiness, signaling a direction towards increased capacity and customized network solutions. Arrcus’s recent $30 million funding boost, notably supported by NVIDIA, is set to enhance its ACE platform focusing on optimizing 5G networks through a microservices architecture. Meanwhile, T-Mobile’s launch of the Partner Plus program and Ericsson’s push for differentiated 5G services outline industry efforts to improve network efficiency, security, and monetization in the growing 5G landscape. This recording followed Arrcus’ presentation at Networking Field Day 35 last month.
AI Has A Place In Networking Operations
Generative AI tools and features are becoming an indispensable part of the way operations teams do their jobs. Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Keith Parsons, Kerry Kulp, and Ron Westfall for this episode discussing the rise of AI tools and how they are implemented. The guests talk about how AI tools should be used by teams to increase their capabilities. They also discuss where AI still has a lot of room to grow and how to avoid traps that could cause issues for stakeholders and champions.
Network as a Service is More of a Financial Model
Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is a very popular topic in the modern enterprise. It promises a way to consume networking technologies in the same way that one would purchase cloud computing by only charging users for what they need. In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, Jordan Martin, Micheline Murphy, and Robb Boyd join Tom Hollingsworth as they discuss the various ways that Network-as-a-Service can be expressed in an organization. They debate the merits of the operational model versus the financial aspects and how NaaS blends into the wider industry trends.
Juniper Debuts Ops4AI and JVDs to Spur Adoption of AI
Juniper Networks has launched the Ops4AI Lab and Juniper Validated Designs (JVDs) to encourage the broader adoption of AI technologies across various sectors. The Ops4AI initiative is designed to improve AI workload performance by offering automated solutions that integrate critical IT infrastructure components like switching, routing, storage, and compute from multiple vendors, enhancing efficiency, and optimizing GPU utilization. With the introduction of features such as fabric autotuning and global load balancing, along with partnerships with key industry players, Juniper aims to lead in providing scalable, effective AI networking solutions that simplify management and advance technological efficiency. Ron Westfall was part of the Mobility Field Day 11 delegate panel where Juniper Networks presented this technology and more!
The Mainframe is Still Going Strong
Despite the hype about modern applications, the mainframe remains central to enterprise IT and is rapidly adopting new technologies. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features Steven Dickens, Geoffrey Decker, and Jon Hildebrand talking to Stephen Foskett about the modern mainframe prior to the SHARE conference. The modern datacenter is rapidly adopting technologies like containerization, orchestration, and artificial intelligence, and these are coming to the mainframe world as well. And the continued importance of mainframe applications, especially in finance and transportation, makes the mainframe more important than ever. There is a tremendous career opportunity in mainframes as well, with recent grads commanding high salaries and working with exciting modern technologies. Modern mainframes run Linux natively, support OpenShift and containers, and support all of the latest languages and programming models in addition to PL1, Cobol, DB2, and of course zOS. We’re looking forward to bringing the latest in the mainframe space from SHARE to our audience.
Morpheus Unified Management for Multi-Cloud Platform Choice
Alastair Cooke, writing for The Futurum Group, discusses the Morpheus Data presentation at Cloud Field Day 20. Morpheus offers a unified management solution that simplifies the complexities of handling multiple cloud platforms. Its comprehensive approach empowers businesses to seamlessly manage applications, orchestrate containers, and automate workflows across diverse cloud environments. This capability significantly enhances operational efficiency, ensuring that organizations can leverage the flexibility of multi-cloud strategies without compromising on performance or security.
Mezmo Data Management, Observability and More
Paul Nashawaty recently caught up with Mezmo at AppDev Field Day, and this DevOps Dialogue offers insight into their data management and observability platform, emphasizing its strength in extracting actionable value from telemetry data. The discussion explores how Mezmo stands out in the crowded market of observability tools by not just collecting data but also by making it comprehensible and useful for businesses. Check out the Mezmo presentation from AppDev Field Day for more detail!
Row-Scale On-Premises Cloud Infrastructure From Oxide Computer
Alastair Cooke at Futurum Research discusses Oxide Computer’s initiative to deliver row-scale, on-premises cloud infrastructure, addressing the growing demand for scalable and manageable IT resources within the enterprise. The article examines how Oxide’s innovative approach aims to combine the convenience and agility of the public cloud with the security and control of on-premises systems. Highlighting a shift in cloud computing, the analysis explores Oxide’s potential to redefine data center operations by offering a comprehensive, customer-centric solution. Read more Cloud Field Day 20 coverage at The Futurum Group!
Google Delivers Titanium Hardware Offload for Performance
In a detailed analysis for Futurum Research, Alastair Cooke discusses Google’s Titanium, a hardware offload technology aimed at enhancing compute performance. The article discusses how Titanium addresses efficiency by offloading tasks from the CPU, thereby boosting processing speeds and reducing latency for demanding workloads. The article also highlights this strategic move by Google as a solution that could redefine performance optimization in data centers, marking a significant advancement in cloud computing capabilities. Look for more Cloud Field Day 20 coverage from Alastair soon!
Everything is the Cloud and The Cloud is Everything
The cloud operating model is everywhere these days, and just about everything is now called cloud. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, recorded live at Cloud Field Day 20, includes Stephen Foskett, Jeffrey Powers, Alastair Cooke, and Steve Puluka discussing the true meaning of the term cloud computing.
Google Shares the Scope of Enterprise Cloud at Cloud Field Day
Last week on the Gestalt IT Rundown, Stephen Foskett discussed the Google Cloud presentation at Cloud Field Day, where the company gave an excellent overview of their enterprise cloud offerings. The presentation showcased Google Cloud’s dedication to providing scalable, secure, and smart solutions to meet the complex needs of modern businesses. Watch the entire Google Cloud presentation on YouTube for a deep dive into the many ways enterprise workloads can be run there!
Unlocking AI Potential: Insights Into Google Cloud’s Vertex AI Platform
Dive into the capabilities of Google Cloud’s Vertex AI Platform, a comprehensive environment designed to unlock the full potential of AI for developers and data scientists. This insightful video takes a closer journey into how Vertex AI simplifies the process of building, deploying, and scaling ML models, streamlining the AI lifecycle from concept to production. Watch as Keith Townsend explores the implications of the Google Cloud presentation at Cloud Field Day 20 in this YouTube video.
HPE Aruba Networking Ready to Turbocharge Private 5G
Ron Westfall considers HPE Aruba’s positioning itself to enhance private 5G network solutions, promising to bring high-speed, reliable connectivity to enterprise environments. Aruba’s networking expertise is set to empower businesses with improved performance, better control, and tailored implementations of 5G technology. The insights presented highlight Aruba’s readiness to meet the burgeoning demand for private 5G networks, cementing its role as a catalyst in the enterprise networking transformation. This analyst note from The Futurum Group looks forward to the announcements at HPE Discover.
Juniper Choreographs AI-Native Networking Breakthroughs
Juniper Networks is steering the industry toward AI-native networking solutions, as discussed in a thorough this analyst note by Ron Westfall of The Futurum Group. At Mobility Field Day 11, the company showcased its vision for intelligent networking, integrating AI to enhance performance, simplify operations, and improve user experiences. These breakthroughs signal Juniper’s commitment to spearheading the AI-driven future of networking, cementing its role as an innovator in the space.
Application Modernization Requires Good Security Practices
As application development and modernization moves forward, security has never been more important. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast introduces AppDev Field Day with a discussion of the importance of DevSecOps featuring Paul Nashawaty, Mitch Ashley, Michael Levan, and Stephen Foskett.
Platform Engineering Is the Revenge of IT Operations
The rise of platform engineering demonstrates how difficult it has been to balance DevOps between developers and operations. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features a discussion of platform engineering with Mitch Ashley and Mike Vizard of Techstrong Group and Stephen Foskett and Tom Hollingsworth of Gestalt IT.
Wi-Fi 7 Isn’t Enough For Future Wireless Needs
New technology standards can’t anticipate how users will consume content and applications and revisions to the standards will be adopted to meet their needs. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Ron Westfall, Drew Lentz, and Rocky Gregory as they discuss where Wi-Fi 7 falls short.
Containerization is Required to Modernize Applications at the Edge
Modern applications are widely deployed in the cloud, but they’re coming at the edge as well. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features Alastair Cooke and Paul Nashawaty from The Futurum Group, Erik Nordmark from ZEDEDA, and host Stephen Foskett discussing the intersection of application modernization and edge computing.
