AI anywhere: How AI models, AI optimized cloud infrastructure, and edge unlock new business cases
44Summary: On-premises computing is not new, but extending AI enabled cloud infrastructure from the cloud to on-premises deployments is. According to Omdia research commissioned by Google Cloud, 38% of banking institutions plan to deploy AI to hundreds of on-premises locations. The rapid pace of AI and gen AI innovations unlock new opportunities to solve complex, costly, and resource intensive use cases such as information retrieval (conversational search), chatbots, and retrieval augmented generation (RAG). For industries (e.g. retail, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, and telecom), using real-time insights, enhancing customer experiences, and optimizing operations can make or break their competitiveness in the market. “AI anywhere,” a descriptive term for AI-optimized cloud infrastructure, AI models, and on-premises computing, is creating new opportunities for decision makers and developers alike to transform industry and public sector use cases including customer experiences, capitalize on new revenue opportunities, and boost business efficiencies.
Challenge: Organizations today face a critical need to leverage AI across their operations, but several challenges hinder widespread adoption. Data gravity, stemming from regulatory requirements, cost concerns, and limited connectivity, often prevents moving data to the public cloud. Furthermore, latency-sensitive applications, such as real-time analytics, control systems, and user interfaces, demand processing power closer to the source, making traditional cloud deployments impractical. Modernizing legacy systems to integrate with AI presents additional complexities, while managing and securing AI deployments across multiple locations becomes increasingly burdensome as use cases expand. “AI anywhere” addresses these challenges by bringing the power of AI directly to where data resides and users operate, whether that's in the cloud, on-premise data centers, or at the edge. Solutions like Google Distributed Cloud provide the flexibility, scalability, and unified management capabilities needed to unlock the potential of AI anywhere and drive innovation for the future.
Solution: Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) effectively tackles the challenges businesses face in adopting AI across various environments by offering a comprehensive solution that combines AI, AI-optimized cloud infrastructure, and edge computing. GDC bridges the gap between cloud and on-premises environments by extending Google Cloud's AI-optimized infrastructure to on-premises locations, allowing for seamless application deployment while maintaining data security and control. This is achieved through a consistent Kubernetes platform, access to the AI Hypercomputer, and localized data processing capabilities. GDC also addresses the difficulties of using AI and gen AI models on-premises by providing access to a vast library of foundation models, including Google's Gemini and over 150 others. Integration with Vertex AI and Model Garden simplifies training and deployment, offering flexibility and choice. Lastly, GDC fosters customized solutions through a thriving partner ecosystem, flexible configurations (air-gapped, connected, and software-only), and an open-source foundation based on Kubernetes. These features empower organizations to build bespoke solutions, avoid vendor lock-in, and leverage preferred tools. GDC's support for edge computing further enhances its capabilities by enabling low-latency AI applications, data processing at the source, and real-time insights – crucial for industries where immediate decision-making is paramount.
Key highlights from this podcast
"It's not just about companies running algorithms on their own servers. It's about AI becoming like a part of the fabric of our lives." This quote highlights the pervasive nature of “AI anywhere”, extending beyond corporate applications into our daily existence.
"We need to focus on equipping people with the skills to thrive in an AI powered world. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, emotional intelligence... These skills will become even more valuable in the future." This idea emphasizes the importance of adapting education and skills development to a future shaped by AI.
"It's about giving businesses the freedom to choose the best solution for their needs without being tied to a single vendor." This point stresses the value of open standards and interoperability in the AI Anywhere landscape, preventing vendor lock-in and promoting flexibility.
"Are we going to become so reliant on AI to make our choices that we just lose the ability to think for ourselves?" This thought-provoking question probes the potential impact of AI on human agency and decision-making.
Google Cloud Products Used: Google Distributed Cloud
Learn More:→ Learn more about Google Distributed Cloud: https://goo.gle/4drknie