Google Cloud Next 2023: All about AI and beyond

Few minutes into the opening keynote I knew that I was at an AI conference. In fact, Sundar Pichai, CEO Alphabet Inc. mentioned AI twenty-five (25) times in his five-minute welcome keynote and Thomas Kurian , CEO Google Cloud kept up the torrid pace by mentioning AI fifteen times in the first five minutes of his keynote!

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On Day 1 of Google Cloud Next 2023, there were 20 product announcements, showcasing generative AI, new hardware, new cloud technologies (including networking!), data analytics capabilities and security innovations. The keynotes had an Enterprise feel to it.

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1. AI Takes Center Stage with Vertex AI: A key theme was the integration of generative AI into the core fabric of Google Cloud services. Google unveiled new models and tooling under the Vertex AI umbrella with over 100 large models in Model Garden, including Llama 2 and Claude 2, model and tuning upgrades for PaLM 2, Codey, and Images and digital watermarking.

2. Duet AI: ?Duet AI is a code assistant that helps developers write code faster and more accurately. Its integration into Google Cloud services for data analytics and security was highlighted. Google mapped Duet AI use cases to application development, managing infrastructure and applications, modernizing databases and for security response and remediation.

3. Fortifying Security with AI: Google Cloud's focus on improving security using AI is noteworthy, it is extensive and frankly impressive. I can’t recall any other vendor announcing intent to support AI at such depth and breadth. Maybe Microsoft will do so soon. By infusing AI into security stack, Google aims to provide advanced threat detection, mitigation, and response mechanisms. Duet AI integration with Mandiant, Chronicle, Security Command Center and a new hunting tool, Mandiant Hunt for Chronicle were announced.

4. Reshaping Data Analytics with AI and Enhanced Database services: Google definitely raised the bar for data analytics with the adoption of AI. Google announced BigQuery Studio to simplify data workflows workflows; integration of BigQuery with Vertex AI and Duet AI for data use cases with Looker, BiQuery and Dataplex. Google announced enhanced database services to make it easier to build enterprise generative AI applications, simplify database tasks with Duet AI.

Google Cloud Next morning keynotes showcased Google's advancements in AI, Data, Security, Networking, and cloud technologies. It was informative and was well worth spending ninety minutes.

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