The Cloudcast

Brandon Whichard, host of Software Defined Talk known for deep takes on cloud, observability, and AI agents. He dives into Snowflake’s Observe acquisition, NVIDIA’s new architecture and marketing, Apple’s shift to Google for AI, Anthropic’s momentum and Claude CoWork, and how agents are reshaping developer workflows.

Ten big questions about the next wave of cloud computing are unpacked in short sharp segments. They probe missed promises of the first cloud era and whether serverless timing was off. Discussions consider multi-cloud friction, primitives versus integrated services, data center shifts for AI capacity, security-by-default, rising sovereign/private needs, and where future AI workloads will run.

Celebrating a milestone, the hosts discuss the journey of their show and the lessons learned along the way. They highlight big cloud trends like Kubernetes and the importance of understanding the business side of technology. Interesting anecdotes include the surprises from the early cloud days and reflections on why some trends, such as serverless, didn't pan out as expected. The conversation also focuses on the skills gained through interviewing and building networks in the tech world, making this a thoughtful exploration of their impact on the industry.

A new era of cloud, dubbed Cloud 2.0, is emerging in 2026, influenced significantly by AI. The podcast explores AWS's struggle to adapt, with concerns over its limited application portfolio. Google Cloud is gaining ground, showcasing its strengths in data and AI. Multi-cloud realities are accepted as essential, challenging the former dominance of public cloud. The discussion contrasts the immediacy needed in AI solutions against traditional cloud services, suggesting a potential shift in industry dynamics.

Adam Kamor, co-founder and head of engineering at Tonic AI, dives into the latest in AI with a focus on RAG systems. He discusses how organizations can customize large language models, weighing options like RAG against fine-tuning and direct prompts. Adam highlights the challenges RAG faces in its evolution, including operational complexities. He also explains the importance of validating LLM outputs and introduces Tonic Validate as a solution for ensuring data quality and compliance while navigating the delicate balance of privacy and security in sensitive data handling.

Peter Zaitsev, founder of Percona and a pioneer in open source databases, discusses the evolution of OSS databases over the past 20 years. He shares insights on how AI is influencing database demands, particularly with vector databases and new data types. Peter elaborates on how the rise of cloud and SaaS transformed marketplace needs, shifting focus to enterprise solutions. His thoughts on regulatory challenges highlight why organizations are reassessing their cloud strategies, aiming for greater control and compliance.

Brandon Whichard, co-host from Software Defined Talk and expert in cloud and AI trends, joins the discussion with Aaron and Brian. They explore the shifting dynamics of college football playoffs as a metaphor for tech disruptions. Brandon analyzes AWS's recent changes in event formats and critiques their AI messaging. They also dive into the implications of NVIDIA's strategies and the emerging bifurcation in AI markets. The trio reflects on Disney's hefty OpenAI investment and hints at challenges leading into 2026.

Bold predictions for the 2026 Cloud and AI landscape take center stage. The discussion highlights OpenAI's revenue trajectory, potential leadership scrutiny, and expectations of at least one high-profile, albeit shaky, AI IPO. AI's influence is set to dominate the US elections, raising questions about job impacts and energy costs. The need for more efficient, smaller models tailored for enterprises is emphasized, alongside debates on alternative AI hardware that could change the economics of technology. Listener engagement intensifies with insights into future trends and challenges.

This year saw AI skyrocketing into the mainstream, becoming a hot topic in tech, politics, and society. An intriguing shift emerged as DeepSeek challenged NVIDIA's chip dominance, raising questions about future alternatives. OpenAI forecasted an astonishing 100x increase in revenue tied to computing needs. AWS's cloud leadership appears to be under threat, while Google made a strategic comeback in generative AI. Bitcoin experienced wild price swings, and a surprising viral moment stemmed from a Coldplay incident, intertwining music with tech trends.

Dive into the whirlwind of AI innovations from 2025! OpenAI's rapid product updates and the surreal competition landscape are examined. NVIDIA's supercar strategy raises eyebrows, while Google makes a stellar comeback with its Gemini integration. The geopolitical tension around China’s AI market and the implications of open-source models shake things up. Coding agents are on the rise, promising excitement for developers. Plus, the looming issues of data center challenges and industry contractions add a thrilling twist to the year in review!