Key takeaways from AWS re:Invent

Key takeaways from AWS re:Invent 2024

Our team has just returned from an exciting week at AWS re:Invent 2024 in Las Vegas! Manuel Calderon, our Managing Director, and Conrado Viña, Qubika Co-founder and Head of Partnerships, had the chance to meet with tech leaders, explore cutting-edge innovations, and dive into the latest trends shaping the future of cloud technology. AWS continues to lead the way, particularly with its growing emphasis on Generative AI, cementing its position at the forefront of cloud solutions.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the event that we think are game-changers:

1. Generative AI takes center stage

AWS made it clear that Generative AI is going to revolutionize the way businesses approach problem-solving. With new tools, applications, and programs announced, it’s now easier for companies to harness the power of AI to tackle complex challenges and drive transformation.
Some of the standout announcements about tools and services in the Generative AI space include:

• Amazon Bedrock. This service now offers even more foundation models to choose from, including the powerful Titan FMs from Amazon and a wide array of models from leading AI startups. Bedrock makes it easy to build and scale generative AI applications with models that can generate text, images, audio, and video.
• Amazon SageMaker. This service has been enhanced with new capabilities to simplify the process of building, training, and deploying generative AI models. SageMaker now includes features like a vector engine for storing and retrieving embeddings, and a data preparation tool to help clean and organize your data for AI training.
• Amazon Q. This AI-powered coding companion is now generally available. Amazon Q can help developers write code faster and more efficiently by providing code suggestions, generating documentation, and even conducting code reviews.

At the event we saw various businesses demonstrating how generative AI can be applied across different industries and also across core business processes and operations. For example, there were talks on how technology teams are already using generative AI in areas such as mainframe modernization and ERP adoption. The use case of mainframe modernization is particularly interesting because it provides new examples of how companies with legacy technologies can modernize their systems much more efficiently and effectively.

2. Game-changing AWS innovations

In addition to announcements about Generative AI, there were also many other highlights. Some of the AWS advancements that caught our attention include:

• Amazon SageMaker. This service continues to evolve as a unified platform for data, analytics, and AI. New features simplify and accelerate workflows for data scientists and developers, making it easier to build, train, and deploy machine learning models.
• Enhanced security measures. AWS announced a series of new and improved security services designed to help organizations bolster their defenses. These include advancements in threat detection, incident response, and data protection, ensuring that your workloads and data remain secure.
• Amazon Nova Models. The next generation of foundation models for creative applications, including AI-generated art and videos. These models go beyond generating text and images, offering advanced capabilities for creating high-quality videos and other multimedia content. Nova models are built to be highly customizable, allowing users to fine-tune them for specific creative tasks and achieve unique artistic styles.
• Amazon EC2 Trainium2 Instances. For those pushing the limits of AI and high-performance computing (HPC), AWS announced the general availability of Amazon EC2 Trainium2 instances. These instances are purpose-built to accelerate the most demanding workloads, including deep learning training and inference, generative AI, and scientific simulations.

3. Exciting startups and innovations are driving the next wave of AI innovation

The energy and innovation from AI startups at re:Invent was palpable. Startups like Qodo and AudioShake showcased their groundbreaking AI-powered solutions, winning major awards at the AWS Unicorn Tank. These startups, and many others, are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge AI applications that have the potential to transform industries. It’s clear that the startup ecosystem is playing a crucial role in driving the next wave of AI innovation.

4. Security and responsible AI is at the forefront of initiatives

Security remains a top priority at AWS, with new AI security categories to help businesses protect their AI environments. Furthermore, responsible AI was a hot topic at re:Invent. AWS and its partners emphasized the importance of building trust in AI systems by ensuring they are developed and used ethically, comply with regulations, and prioritize security. This focus on responsible AI reflects a growing awareness of the need to address potential biases, ensure fairness, and promote transparency in AI applications.

5. A new way to streamline the procurement process

A major announcement this year was Buy with AWS, which allows customers to buy solutions directly from partner websites using their AWS account. This innovation will simplify the purchasing process, helping businesses save time and enhance customer experience.

Looking ahead to 2025

As we left Las Vegas, one thing was clear: 2025 will be an AWSome year for tech innovations! From the exciting new features of Amazon SageMaker to the growing impact of generative AI, AWS re:Invent 2024 reinforced its role as a key player in the future of cloud computing.

Stay tuned for upcoming webinars, blog posts, and more as we delve into the latest AWS advancements and generative AI innovations. Follow along here:

Cheers to another successful re:Invent! 🌟