In this episode, we chat with Randall Hunt, the VP of Technology at Caylent, about the world of generative AI and how it's changing industries. Randall talks about his journey from being an AWS critic to leading tech projects at Caylent. He shares cool insights into the latest tech innovations, the challenges and opportunities in AI, and his vision for the future. Randall also explains how AI is used in healthcare, finance, and more, and gives advice for those interested in tech.

Show Highlights:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:28) - Randall talks about his job at Caylent and the projects he's working on

(01:35) - Randall explains his honest and evolving perspective on Amazon Bedrock after working with it hands-on

(03:35) - Randall breaks down the components and improvements of AWS Bedrock

(06:08) - Improvements in AWS Bedrock's preview announcements and API functionality

(08:05) - Randall's predictions on the future of generative AI models and their cost efficiency

(10:00) - Randall shares practical use cases using distilled models and older GPUs

(12:12) - Corey shares his experience with GPT-4 and the importance of prompt engineering

(17:21) - Bedrock console features for comparing and contrasting AI models

(21:02) - enterprise applications of generative AI and building reliable AI infrastructures

(28:13) - Randall and Corey delve into the costs of training large AI models

(36:37) - Randall talks about real-world applications of Bedrock in industries like HVAC management

(39:40) - Closing thoughts and where to connect with Randall

About Randall Hunt:

Randall Hunt is a Software Engineer and Open Source Developer Advocate at Facebook. Previously of AWS, SpaceX, MongoDB, and NASA., Randall Hunt, VP of Cloud Strategy and Solutions at Caylent, is a technology leader, investor, and hands-on-keyboard coder based in Los Angeles, CA. Previously, Randall led software and developer relations teams at Facebook, SpaceX, AWS, MongoDB, and NASA. Randall spends most of his time listening to customers, building demos, writing blog posts, and mentoring junior engineers. Python and C++ are his favorite programming languages, but he begrudgingly admits that Javascript rules the world. Outside of work, Randall loves to read science fiction, advise startups, travel, and ski., Randall is the coder in the boardroom.

Links referenced:

Randall Hunt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranman/

Caylent: https://caylent.com/

Caylent on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/caylent/

* Sponsor

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In this episode of Screaming in the Cloud, Corey Quinn reconnects with Justin Brodley, Senior Vice President of Cloud and Technology at Blackline and host of the CloudPod podcast, to discuss the ongoing changes within cloud computing, specifically the intense focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and its repercussions on traditional cloud infrastructure. Justin shares insights from his recent experience at Google Cloud Next, discussing how the AI hype is reshaping cloud service strategies. Additionally, their conversation explores the cultural and strategic shifts within Google and Microsoft, examining their impact on the broader cloud computing landscape.

Show Highlights:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:45) - Justin's take on Google Cloud Next

(03:56) - The investor-focused nature of the recent Google Cloud Next conference

(06:16) - How multi-cloud strategies are forming enterprise tech decisions

(08:18) - Over-reliance on AI in critical business functions

(15:08) - The lack of foundational cloud services and the risk of overemphasizing AI

(19:36) - Leadership changes at Amazon and their impact on the company's direction

(21:50) - Growth of Amazon's ad revenue

(27:16) - The importance of cloud services in today’s tech world

(30:51) - Concerns about security practices and responsiveness in cloud services

(37:19) - The need for Security in user training and corporate policies

(41:13) - Closing remarks and where to find Justin

About Justin:

Justin Brodley is the Senior Vice President of Cloud and Technology at Blackline and the host of the CloudPod podcast. With a strong background in building innovative DevOps teams and enhancing revenue growth through strategic compliance and innovation, Justin is adept at driving customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. He has extensive experience designing and deploying scalable systems, managing costs effectively, and implementing positive cultural changes across various sectors, including cloud computing, ITIL, infrastructure, and more. Justin is also an engaging mentor and a recognized voice in the cloud community through his podcast, found at www.thecloudpod.net.

Links referenced:

• The CloudPod Podcast: https://www.thecloudpod.net/
• Justin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbrodley
• Justin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrodley/

Sponsor

• Prowler: https://prowler.com

On this week’s episode of Screaming in the Cloud, Corey Quinn sits down with the incredible Cody Odgen, software developer and creator of Killed by Google. Corey and Cody discuss Google’s graveyard of products, how discontinuing offerings creates a feeling of distrust amongst your customers, and why Google lacks the hunger needed to create an amazing generative AI tool. Corey shares his take on killed products from an AWS perspective while Cody draws comparisons between late’90s Microsoft and today’s Google, suggesting a decline in quality could be on the horizon for the cloud giant.

Highlights

(00:00) Intro

(00:36) Ad - Panoptica

(01:17) The Google Graveyard: Discussing Killed Services

(02:11) AWS vs. Google: Service Termination Practices

(03:17) AI Overload at Google Cloud Next

(05:44) The Impact of Google's Decisions on Trust and Business

(11:26) The Stadia Shutdown: A Case Study in Trust Erosion

(14:11) Ad - Panoptica

(14:34) The Ripple Effects of Google's Service Closures

(18:50) The Importance of Longevity and Trust in Tech

(23:25) Comparing Cloud Giants: Google, Amazon, and Microsoft

(27:54) Closing Thoughts on Corporate Responsibility and Culture

(28:48) Wrapping Up and Where to Find More

Links:
Website: Killedbygoogle.com

Twitter/X: @killedbygoogle

* Sponsor

Prowler: https://prowler.com