Suggestions
Gwen Shapira
Building Something Amazing
Gwen Shapira, also known as Gwen Chen Shapira, is a prominent figure in the world of data systems, renowned for her expertise in building large-scale systems where optimization down to every millisecond is crucial. With a wealth of experience in the IT industry spanning over 15 years, Gwen has honed her skills across various technical roles and domains.
As a Senior Consultant at Pythian, Oracle ACE Director, Board member at NoCOUG, and a member of the Oak Table Network, Gwen has solidified her position as a thought leader in the field of data architecture and performance optimization. Her educational background includes studies in Computer Science, Statistics, and Operations Research at the University of Tel Aviv, as well as additional academic pursuits at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Gwen's technical competencies range from Linux system administration to web development and extensive experience in Oracle database administration. She excels in deciphering customer requirements, devising and implementing high-performance data architectures, and sharing her insights and experiences with audiences worldwide at conferences. Troubleshooting and enhancing system speed are among her passions, along with integrating diverse data technologies synergistically for optimal outcomes. Her knack for explaining complex concepts to individuals and large audiences alike underscores her exceptional communication skills and mentoring prowess.
Highlights
"Shaping AI's Impact on Billions of Lives" is either the most underrated article of 2025, or I'm out of the loop and everyone is already talking about it.
Top computer science and AI researchers (at least 3 authors with Turing awards) discussed the future of AI with top experts in critical domains. The result is a nuanced roadmap for future investment, research and development.
The framing of the future as "AI + Human collaboration" resonates with me, as well as the idea that decisions made today will have huge impact on our future. But the details of how this can play out in various fields is where this paper shines.
Must read and a lot to ponder.

Are there any cases where adding AI to customer support system resulted in higher customer satisfaction?
I keep running into disaster stories (like the Oracle SNAFU as reported by The Register). But there must be cases where this was successful, right? https://t.co/7Hgf7jZqwY

