AI workloads Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

Snowflake Acquires Crunchy Data to Launch Enterprise-Ready Postgres Offering

Snowflake has acquired Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source PostgreSQL solutions, for approximately [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Snowflake has made a strategic move by acquiring Crunchy Data, a notable provider of open-source PostgreSQL solutions. This acquisition paves the way for the introduction of Snowflake Postgres, a managed PostgreSQL database tailored for AI and transactional workloads within the Snowflake AI Data Cloud. The deal, expected to finalize shortly, involves an investment of approximately 0 million, as reported by CNBC. This acquisition aims to enhance Snowflake's platform with Crunchy Data's operational expertise, compliance capabilities, and deep knowledge of PostgreSQL. In light of the growing demand for robust enterprise-grade Postgres solutions capable of supporting production-scale applications and AI systems, Snowflake asserts that Snowflake Postgres will empower developers with the full capabilities of open-source Postgres. At the same time, it will ensure the governance, security, and operational standards that enterprises require. Addressing Enterprise Challenges with Postgres PostgreSQL is a favored choice among developers due to its open-source nature, flexibility, and support for advanced features like vector embeddings. However, many enterprises encounter challenges with traditional Postgres deployments, particularly in areas such as security, compliance, and scalability. Snowflake emphasizes that managing sensitive data, powering critical AI applications, and operating within regulated industries necessitate robust security and compliance measures that exceed what is typically offered by platforms designed for rapid experimentation. With Snowflake Postgres, the company aims to tackle these challenges by providing a fully managed, secure, and compliant Postgres option seamlessly integrated into the Snowflake platform. This integration is anticipated to minimize operational silos and streamline development workflows. Expanding Use Cases for AI and Transactional Workloads Once operational, Snowflake Postgres will facilitate the use of Postgres-based applications without necessitating extensive code rewrites, while also fostering new development opportunities. Companies heavily invested in the Postgres ecosystem will find it easier to migrate and run existing applications on Snowflake without the need for significant modifications to their codebase. This new offering will complement Unistore, Snowflake’s solution for unifying transactional and analytical data, thereby broadening the scope of Snowflake's capabilities for AI workloads. Why Crunchy Data? Crunchy Data brings a wealth of experience in managed Postgres, Kubernetes-based deployments, and compliance-oriented infrastructure. Snowflake highlights that Crunchy Data’s strong commitment to developers and the open-source community, coupled with their readiness for enterprise applications, makes them an ideal partner for this endeavor. The Crunchy platform offers a range of features, including built-in metrics, connection pooling, logging support, and developer tools. Their solutions encompass managed cloud services, Kubernetes deployments, and on-premise options, showcasing their versatility in meeting diverse customer needs. Customer Reaction Initial feedback from Snowflake’s customer base indicates a positive reception towards the Postgres integration. Chris Burchett, SVP of generative AI at Blue Yonder, expressed enthusiasm, stating that incorporating PostgreSQL technology into the Snowflake ecosystem presents an opportunity for development teams to enhance and streamline benefits for their customers. Dan Maloney, CEO of Landing AI, remarked on the potential impact of having direct access to a PostgreSQL database within Snowflake, emphasizing that this integration could significantly simplify the process of building, deploying, and running AI applications on the Snowflake platform. Snowflake has articulated that this acquisition aligns with its long-term vision of establishing itself as the central hub for enterprise data workloads, further solidifying its position in the market." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million. This acquisition will lead to the introduction of Snowflake Postgres, a managed PostgreSQL database designed for AI and transactional workloads within the Snowflake AI Data Cloud. Snowflake Postgres aims to offer developers the full capabilities of open-source Postgres while ensuring necessary governance, security, and compliance for enterprises. The integration of Crunchy Data's expertise is expected to address challenges related to security, compliance, and scalability in traditional Postgres deployments. Snowflake Postgres will allow companies to run Postgres-based applications with minimal code changes and will complement Snowflake’s Unistore solution for unifying transactional and analytical data. Initial customer feedback has been positive, highlighting the potential benefits of this integration for development teams and AI applications.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Signal blasts Microsoft over Recall privacy failings, as secure messaging app is forced to fudge a way of blocking the controversial Windows 11 feature

Signal has introduced a new feature in its Windows 11 application that blocks Microsoft's Recall functionality to enhance user privacy. This 'screen security' setting is activated by default for Windows 11 users and is part of Signal's efforts to protect shared content on its platform. Recall captures screenshots of user activity on Copilot+ PCs, which raised privacy concerns. While Microsoft has improved Recall, issues with its interaction with privacy-focused applications like Signal remain. The feature is specifically applicable to users with Copilot+ PCs equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Users can disable the screen security setting through Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen security, with a warning about the privacy implications of doing so.

Tech Optimizer

May 24, 2025

Connect Amazon Bedrock Agents with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL using Amazon RDS Data API

Generative AI applications are being integrated with relational databases, allowing organizations to utilize structured data for training AI models. This integration involves using the RDS Data API with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon Bedrock for AI model access and automation. The solution enables natural language queries to be converted into SQL statements, executed against the database, and returns results in a user-friendly format. The architecture includes several steps: invoking the Amazon Bedrock agent with natural language input, generating SQL queries using large language models (LLMs), executing those queries via the Data API, and returning formatted results. Security measures are in place to restrict operations to read-only, preventing modifications that could compromise data integrity. To implement this solution, prerequisites include deploying an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster using AWS CDK and setting up the necessary Lambda functions and IAM roles. The agent is designed to convert natural language prompts into SQL queries and execute them securely. Testing can be conducted through the Amazon Bedrock console or the InvokeAgent API, with options for tracing the agent's steps. Key considerations for this integration include limiting it to read-only workloads, implementing parameter validation to prevent SQL injection, and ensuring comprehensive logging and auditing. For multi-tenant applications, appropriate isolation controls should be established. To avoid future charges, all resources created through CDK should be deleted after use.

Tech Optimizer

May 19, 2025

Databricks To Buy Serverless Postgres Company Neon

Databricks has agreed to acquire Neon, a significant player in the serverless Postgres market, to enhance its database capabilities and developer experience. Over 80 percent of databases on Neon are automatically created by AI agents, indicating a shift towards agent-driven workflows. Neon's architecture allows for rapid deployment of Postgres instances in under 500 milliseconds, features a cost structure that scales with usage through the separation of compute and storage, and is fully compatible with the Postgres ecosystem. The acquisition aims to eliminate inefficiencies in database scaling, improve performance for concurrent AI agents, and streamline infrastructure while maintaining security and governance. Following the acquisition, Neon's team will join Databricks to support the development of responsive and reliable AI agent systems.

Tech Optimizer

May 17, 2025

Databricks to Acquire Database Startup Neon for $1 Billion

Databricks plans to acquire Neon, a serverless Postgres provider, for billion. Neon's platform supports AI agents, with over 80% of databases provisioned automatically by them. The architecture allows rapid database spin-up in under 500 milliseconds and is compatible with the open-source Postgres ecosystem. Neon was founded in 2021 by Nikita Shamgunov, Heikki Linnakangas, and Stas Kelvich, and features a design that separates storage and compute for instant provisioning and auto-scaling. Databricks aims to integrate Neon’s technology into its Data Intelligence Platform to enhance AI workloads. Following the acquisition, Neon’s team will join Databricks while continuing to support the existing community. This acquisition is expected to impact the 0 billion database market. Databricks has also acquired Fennel and Tabular to enhance its capabilities in the tech landscape.

Tech Optimizer

May 16, 2025

The $1 Billion database bet: What Databricks’ Neon acquisition means for your AI strategy

Databricks acquired the privately held serverless PostgreSQL startup Neon for approximately billion. Neon, founded in 2022, had previously raised million in a Series B funding round. Over 80% of the databases generated on Neon's platform were initiated by AI agents. PostgreSQL, an established relational database platform, is ranked as the fourth most popular database as of 2025. Serverless PostgreSQL offers operational simplicity, allowing on-demand resource allocation, which is particularly beneficial for AI-centric projects. Major cloud providers, including Google, Microsoft, and AWS, offer serverless PostgreSQL services. Databricks aims to build a developer and AI-agent-friendly database platform with this acquisition. Serverless architectures excel in handling short bursts and smaller workloads, providing rapid scalability, but may present challenges in data management. Neon’s model enhances appeal for developers by distinguishing between storage and compute, facilitating automated scaling. The acquisition indicates a shift in infrastructure requirements for successful AI implementation, highlighting the need for flexible, instantly scalable serverless solutions.

Tech Optimizer

May 15, 2025

Neon Serverless Postgres: Azure Native Integration Now Available

Microsoft and Neon have launched Neon Serverless Postgres as a native integration within the Azure ecosystem, following its initial preview in December 2024. This open-source, serverless database solution is positioned as an alternative to AWS Aurora Postgres. Key features include automatic scaling, branching capabilities, direct database connection from Azure, Azure CLI and SDK support, and Semantic Kernel integration for RAG pipelines. Microsoft has invested millions in Neon as part of a broader funding round to enhance collaboration. Neon’s platform includes autoscaling, branching, and point-in-time restore capabilities, specifically designed for AI applications. EnterpriseDB has appointed Nancy Hensley as Chief Product Officer to lead growth for its EDB Postgres AI platform, which supports various workloads and modernizes legacy systems. Additionally, companies are increasingly adopting passwordless authentication methods, with MojoAuth offering solutions that integrate into applications to enhance security and user experience.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks Acquires Neon for $1 Billion, Boosting AI Infrastructure with Serverless PostgreSQL

Databricks has acquired Neon, a cloud-based database startup specializing in serverless PostgreSQL, in a billion-dollar deal. This acquisition aims to enhance Databricks' role in the AI tooling landscape and reflects a shift in the database market to meet the needs of AI-native applications. Neon, founded in 2021 and based in Menlo Park, California, had raised nearly million before this acquisition. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi noted that 80% of databases on their platform are created by code rather than humans, indicating a shift in database management driven by autonomous AI agents. Databricks has been actively acquiring companies to strengthen its AI development capabilities, having previously acquired firms like MosaicML and Arcion. Ghodsi emphasized that as a private entity, Databricks can make long-term strategic decisions without public market pressures. The acquisition reflects a broader trend of increased deal-making in the AI sector and highlights the growing importance of robust data infrastructure in the context of sovereign AI initiatives.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks acquires Neon: serverless Postgres database for AI agents

Neon can spin up a Postgres instance in less than 500 milliseconds. Databricks has acquired Neon, rumored to be valued at over a billion, to enhance its AI capabilities. Neon focuses on developing a premier Postgres solution for cloud environments and aims to refine its offerings with Databricks' support. Neon’s serverless architecture allows for a fully isolated Postgres database deployment in under 500 milliseconds, separates compute and storage for cost efficiency, and maintains compatibility with the Postgres ecosystem. The integration of Neon’s architecture with Databricks' platform aims to improve AI agent systems, alleviate performance bottlenecks, streamline infrastructure, and reduce operational costs. The acquisition will result in the Neon team joining Databricks, pending regulatory approvals.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks Agrees to Acquire Neon to Deliver Serverless Postgres for Developers + AI Agents

Databricks intends to acquire Neon, a leader in serverless Postgres technology, to enhance its database and developer experience. The database market is valued at over [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Databricks, a prominent player in the Data and AI landscape, has announced its intention to acquire Neon, a leading innovator in serverless Postgres technology. This strategic move comes as the database market, valued at over 0 billion, stands on the brink of significant transformation driven by advancements in AI. Databricks aims to enhance Neon's database and developer experience, catering to both existing and prospective customers and partners. Neon: An Open, Serverless Foundation for Developers and AI Agents In the evolving landscape of software development, AI agents are becoming indispensable. Neon is specifically designed to facilitate the workflows of these agents. Recent telemetry data indicates that more than 80 percent of databases provisioned on Neon are generated automatically by AI agents, highlighting the rapid growth of agent-driven workloads. These workloads present distinct characteristics that set them apart from traditional human-driven processes: Speed + flexibility: AI agents operate at machine speed, eliminating the bottlenecks often associated with traditional database provisioning. Neon's capability to launch a fully isolated Postgres instance in under 500 milliseconds, along with its support for instant branching and forking of database schemas and data, ensures that experiments can be conducted without disrupting production environments. Cost proportionality: The demand for a cost structure that scales with usage is paramount for agents. Neon's architecture separates compute and storage, allowing for a total cost of ownership that aligns with the actual queries executed across thousands of ephemeral databases. Open source ecosystem: AI agents thrive in an environment that leverages the extensive Postgres community. Neon is fully compatible with Postgres and integrates seamlessly with popular extensions. Ali Ghodsi, Co-Founder and CEO of Databricks, remarked on the significance of this acquisition: "The era of AI-native, agent-driven applications is reshaping what a database must do. Neon exemplifies this shift, with four out of five databases on their platform being created by code rather than human intervention. By integrating Neon into Databricks, we are providing developers with a serverless Postgres solution that meets the demands of agentic speed, flexible economics, and the openness of the Postgres community." Databricks and Neon's Shared Vision The collaboration between Databricks and Neon aims to dismantle the conventional constraints of databases that require simultaneous scaling of compute and storage, a limitation that can impede AI workloads. The fusion of Neon's serverless Postgres architecture with the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform is set to empower developers and enterprise teams to efficiently construct and deploy AI agent systems. This integration not only mitigates performance bottlenecks associated with numerous concurrent agents but also streamlines infrastructure, reduces costs, and fosters innovation—all while maintaining Databricks' core principles of security, governance, and scalability. Nikita Shamgunov, CEO of Neon, expressed optimism about the future: "Four years ago, we set out to build the best serverless Postgres for the cloud, highly scalable and open to all. With this acquisition, we aim to accelerate that mission, bolstered by the support and resources of an AI powerhouse. Databricks was founded by open-source pioneers dedicated to simplifying the interaction between developers and data at any scale. Together, we are embarking on a new chapter in our ambitious journey." Following the completion of the transaction, Neon's skilled team is expected to join Databricks, bringing valuable expertise and continuity to Neon's thriving community. This partnership will enable organizations to break down data silos, streamline architecture, and develop AI agents that are more responsive, reliable, and secure. Further insights will be shared at the upcoming Data + AI Summit, scheduled to take place in San Francisco from June 9 to 12. Details Regarding the Proposed AcquisitionThe acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including necessary regulatory approvals. About NeonFounded in 2021 by a team of seasoned database engineers and Postgres contributors, Neon aims to provide a serverless Postgres platform that accelerates the development of reliable and scalable applications, catering to projects ranging from personal endeavors to enterprise-level solutions. About DatabricksDatabricks is a leader in Data and AI, trusted by over 10,000 organizations globally—including notable names like Block, Comcast, Condé Nast, Rivian, and Shell, as well as over 60% of the Fortune 500. The Databricks Data Intelligence Platform empowers organizations to harness their data effectively and leverage AI capabilities. Headquartered in San Francisco, Databricks was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark™, Delta Lake, and MLflow. For more information, follow Databricks on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] billion and is undergoing transformation due to AI advancements. More than 80% of databases on Neon are provisioned automatically by AI agents, which operate at machine speed and require a cost structure that scales with usage. Neon's architecture separates compute and storage, aligning costs with actual queries. The integration of Neon's serverless Postgres with Databricks aims to improve AI workloads by dismantling traditional database constraints. Following the acquisition, Neon’s team will join Databricks, enhancing their community and capabilities. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Neon was founded in 2021 to provide a scalable serverless Postgres platform. Databricks serves over 10,000 organizations globally, including many Fortune 500 companies.