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

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In this Screaming in the Cloud episode, Corey welcomes Dana Mattioli, author of 'The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power.' Together, they discuss the themes of her book, exploring Amazon's extensive reach and influence across multiple sectors, its profound impact on competition, and the ethical concerns surrounding its aggressive business practices. They also discuss Amazon's internal culture, intricate relationships with government entities, and strategic maneuvers within the corporate world.

Show Highlights:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:39) - The vast expansion of Amazon and its impact on modern society and corporate strategy

(05:31) - Amazon's internal profit strategies

(07:04) - Amazon's growth: Intentional strategy or opportunistic expansion?

(13:51) - Amazon’s competitive and controversial tactics against startups and innovators

(16:25) - Amazon's workplace culture and systemic issues leading to unethical practices

(20:49) - How Amazon leverages customer data to maintain competitive advantages

(25:17) - Amazon's interactions with the government and its public relations strategy

(29:28) - Amazon's ethical practices and the real-world impacts

(32:00) - Amazon’s use of algorithms like Project Nessie to manipulate market pricing

(36:28) - Corey critiques Amazon’s internal product strategies

(38:29) - Amazon’s market dominance across various sectors

(40:57) - Antitrust enforcement and their effects on modern digital monopolies

(44:04) - Potential critical responses from Amazon insiders about Dana’s book

(45:50) - Closing thoughts and where to find Dana

About Dana:

Dana Mattioli is a Wall Street Journal reporter based in New York, focusing on Amazon's business practices, market power, and antitrust issues. She authored "The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power" and was a 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist for her investigative work on Amazon. Dana won the 2021 Gerald Loeb Award for Beat Reporting and the WERT Prize for business journalism. Previously, she covered mergers & acquisitions, including Pfizer’s $150 billion Allergan deal and the Dow-DuPont merger, which won a Gerald Loeb Award in 2016. Dana began her career at the Journal in 2006 after graduating from American University with degrees in journalism and literature.

Links referenced:

Dana’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-mattioli-7b09779/

Dana’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanaMattioli

Dana’s Book, The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-everything-war-amazon-s-ruthless-quest-to-own-the-world-and-remake-corporate-power-dana-mattioli/20335592

* Sponsor

Prowler: https://prowler.com