AI full throttle

After the AI breakthroughs and wave of innovations in 2023, 2024 saw the AI hype reach full throttle. Organizations across every sector dove into how AI could enhance processes, operations, and the way we interact with each other.
At Microsoft, copilots became an obsession, and “agentic” seemed to find its way into every conversation. AI features were added to almost every product, leading to a new paradigm: How can product X serve AI use cases? And how can AI enhance product X?

Now, as 2025 approaches, the big question arises: Are we beginning to hit significant roadblocks with AI, and are the returns meeting the massive AI expectations? Will 2025 mirror 2024’s frenzy, or are we in for a phase of steady, incremental progress?
Only time will tell—let’s grab some popcorn and watch how it unfolds.

Learn and Share

Looking at myself, 2024 was a year of growth, learning, and sharing thoughts on a variety of topics with the great Azure community:

  • 🤖 AI Exploration: I kept a close eye on AI trends, learned the fundamentals, and delved into concepts like RAG and AI gateway patterns.
  • 🚨 APIM Hotrod : Collaborating with the amazing Stéphane Eyskens on the APIM Hotrod series was a true highlight. Together, we delivered 20 episodes, capped off with a special live stream celebrating Azure API Management’s 10th anniversary. A big thank-you to everyone who joined us!
  • 👮 API Governance: I returned to a topic that has always fascinated me: how to deliver better APIs. This includes managing the full API lifecycle, ensuring they are more consistent, secure, and impactful. I had the opportunity to engage closely with the API Center team to explore previews and provide feedback.
  • 📣 **Public Speaking:**I delivered 11 talks this year—a rewarding experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. These took me to Belgium , the Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy, where I had the pleasure of meeting brilliant professionals and wonderful people.
  • 📝 Blogging: Though fewer posts compared to 2023, I explored exciting topics like APIM STv2, AKS automatic, and Logic Apps hybrid deployment model.
  • 🤝 Inspiring Conversations: I had the privilege of engaging with customers and peers on technology, quality processes, and cloud architectures. Joining the Microsoft MVP program is an incredible opportunity to connect with a global community of experts, gain early access to cutting-edge Microsoft technologies, and share your knowledge while making a meaningful impact in the tech ecosystem.

Thank you for being part of this journey - whether through your comments, messages, or simply engaging with the content.Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep contributing to the community, learn and exploring new challenges in 2025.

 Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash