Against the backdrop of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon NA 2023, the DevOps world found itself at a crossroads.

With day two of KubeCon NA under way, the stage was set for a deep dive into the world of DevOps and AI. The conversations throughout the day offered a glimpse into the ever-evolving landscape of DevOps and the burgeoning significance of artificial intelligence in this domain.

“We did start with AI code review, a very important part of DevSecOps, but the next area we actually looked at was security,” said David DeSanto (pictured), chief product officer at GitLab Inc. “What we did at GitLab … we realized we shift security left. We made it more developer friendly.”

Desanto spoke with theCUBE industry analysts Savannah Peterson and Dustin Kirkland at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon NA, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. During the discussion, Desanto gave a glimpse into GitLab’s journey and the promising future it signals for the world of software development and delivery. (* Disclosure below.)

AI takes center stage: A snapshot of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon

Among the most conspicuous observations at KubeCon was the shifting focus of the industry. A year ago, security was the predominant topic of discussion at KubeCon. In contrast, the current buzz revolves around AI. This shift reflects the fast-paced nature of the tech world, where trends can evolve rapidly.

“It was all about security,” Desanto said of last year’s KubeCon. “It felt like everyone was talking about security, and now everyone’s talking about AI.”

There is also a growing need for increased visibility into operations — an original theme of KubeCon, according to Desanto. This theme has made a resounding comeback, highlighting the importance of knowing where one’s systems reside and whether they are functioning optimally.

“I think the other thing too is I’ve heard a lot about needing more visibility into what’s happening, and I feel like that was one of the original themes of KubeCon,” he said. “Seeing that kind of creep back up to say, ‘I’m doing all the cloud-native things now, but where’s my stuff?’ I’ve seen that be a nice, little thread going through a lot of the stuff I’ve been hearing.”

Harnessing AI using GitLab Duo

GitLab has been at the forefront of harnessing the power of AI in the realm of DevOps, according to Desanto. The company’s unique position as a comprehensive DevOps platform has allowed it to seamlessly integrate AI into the entire DevOps lifecycle.

“GitLab in June released what we call GitLab Duo. It is our AI suite of power, or DevSecOps, AI-powered workflows,” he said. “It focuses on everything from helping you in planning all the way through coding, securing and deploying. It’s because GitLab is in a DevSecOps platform. It covers the entire DevSecOps lifecycle.”

GitLab’s commitment to making DevOps more efficient is a recurring theme. Merely enhancing developer productivity is insufficient; the entire DevOps ecosystem needs to evolve in tandem, Desanto pointed out. This sentiment echoes the company’s values, encapsulated in its mission to make organizations successful by applying AI comprehensively across the spectrum.

“We feel like to make organizations successful, you’ve got to apply AI for everyone,” he said. “That’s where GitLab Duo is really taking hold … people using it for everything.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon NA:

(* Disclosure: GitLab Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither GitLab nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE