Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: Kelsey Hightower’s advice for platform engineers as AI looms in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
Since our human ancestors implemented the first stone tools 2 million years ago, technology has been continually changing. And in this era of modern technology, everyone is always chasing “the next big thing.”
It seems impossible to refute that AI is today’s next big thing; the last few years have shown a steady influx of AI integrations into apps, tools and platforms across a variety of markets.
But AI is a “surface-level” technology, according to Kelsey Hightower. The renowned public speaker, technologist and self-described AI skeptic recently appeared on IT Ops Query to discuss how AI is changing the platform engineering discipline and how IT leadership should respond.
How platform engineers can compete with AI
As a surface-level technology, AI operates on a foundation of fundamental systems: servers, networks, GPUs, programming languages and so on. “The programs you built still run on hardware, still run on those operating systems and still interact over those same protocols and networks,” Hightower said.
“Underneath the hood, the way we get to those [AI] prompts is still the same,” he added. “You have to interact with people, you have to understand the real world, you have to understand your customer base.”
That deeper understanding and proficiency with core technologies is key for platform engineers to effectively implement — and compete with — AI. Meanwhile, IT leaders must be able to identify skills gaps in their teams, allow time for training where it’s needed and enable their teams to focus on honing necessary skill sets.
Ask yourself, ‘What value do I bring over the computers?’ And I promise you, there’s a lot of value that humans bring over the computers. Kelsey Hightower
“Find the imperfections in your team,” Hightower said. “Why can’t we utilize technology efficiently? Why are we struggling with Kubernetes? Why are we still struggling with VMs?”
Recognizing and mitigating these imperfections can help platform engineering teams close the gap between what they can accomplish and what AI can do. It also helps identify when it makes sense to use AI versus when teams can use their own skills to accomplish something more efficiently.
“You say, ‘We’re going to bring in AI.’ The question is, when should we use it?” Hightower said. “Ideally, we should use it when there is no more efficient way to do the thing.”
For platform engineers and anyone in a role where the threat of AI looms large, Hightower suggests this is the moment to examine exactly what value they add that machines cannot.
“The closer that answer is to zero,” he said, “you’re going to have a problem.”
“So, start doing that analysis right now,” he continued. “Ask yourself, ‘What value do I bring over the computers?’ And I promise you, there’s a lot of value that humans bring over the computers. Go figure that out for yourself and make sure that those skills are as good as the other ones that you have.”
Watch this episode of IT Ops Query to hear more from Hightower on AI in the platform engineering discipline and how IT leaders can balance AI capabilities with the importance of human skills.
Kate Murray is a managing editor with Informa TechTarget’s Infrastructure editorial team. She joined the company as an associate managing editor of e-products in 2020.
