Demystifying AI, Platforms, & Cloud Native at TeraSky NYC Meetup

On August 21st, Microsoft Reactor NYC hosted an enlightening meetup titled “Demystifying AI, Platforms, & Cloud Native.” The evening was a deep dive into these hot topics, shedding light on how they interconnect and their real-world applications. Here’s a look back at what made the event a standout experience.

Unraveling the Complexity
The event aimed to demystify the buzzwords of the tech world—AI, platform engineering, and cloud-native technologies. Attendees gained valuable insights into how these elements work together to drive transformation in the tech landscape.

Event Highlights

• Stefana Muller, SVP Cloud Infrastructure & Operations, Own: Justifying the Need for Platform Engineering
  Stefana, provided a compelling guide on transitioning to Platform Engineering. Her talk focused on the key benefits such as enhanced developer productivity, streamlined operations, and increased scalability. She compared these advantages to traditional DevOps practices and shared strategies for building a persuasive business case. Stefana’s real-world examples and metrics demonstrated how Platform Engineering can improve delivery speed, system reliability, and resource utilization while aligning with organizational goals and securing stakeholder buy-in.

• Scott Rosenberg, Lead Architect, CTO Office, TeraSky: DOWN with Shift Left
  Scott, challenged the conventional “shift left” approach, arguing that it often shifts problems onto developers. Instead, he advocated for “shifting down” into the platform. Scott discussed how empowering platforms with automation and intelligent decision-making capabilities can offload complex tasks such as security scanning and policy management. His talk emphasized the benefits of allowing platforms to handle these responsibilities, reducing cognitive load and enhancing efficiency.

• Ramiro Berelleza, CEO & Co-Founder, Okteto: One Size Fits All – On AI, Platforms & Cloud Native
  Ramiro, addressed the rapid pace of GenAI advancements and the risks of premature platform standardization. He argued that while platforms are not always necessary for every AI use case, Kubernetes is a valuable tool for AI infrastructure. Ramiro highlighted the importance of remote development environments in creating effective solutions for AI development, advocating for a balanced approach to platform adoption.

• James Codella, Principal Product Manager, Azure CosmosDB: Building Generative AI Apps with Your Data in Azure Cosmos DB
  James provided insights into building Generative AI applications with a focus on performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. He introduced Azure Cosmos DB’s new vector database capabilities, powered by DiskANN, which offers low latency and high-recall vector search. James demonstrated how these features, combined with Azure Cosmos DB’s scale-out architecture, enable the development of powerful and economical large-scale applications.

Networking and Engagement

Beyond the insightful presentations, the event provided ample networking opportunities. Attendees enjoyed delicious food and drinks while connecting with peers, sharing ideas, and discussing the latest trends in technology.

Stay tuned for future events and updates from TeraSky as we continue to explore the cutting edge of technology.