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Kate Liu
CST-300 Writing Lab
11 January 2024
Software Engineering in Cloud + AI Time

Part I - The Industry

Introduction of Cloud + AI

The term cloud computing was first used by Professor Ramnath K. Chellappa of Emory

University (Gewirtz, 2023). Cloud services refer to all the resources such as applications and

infrastructure, that are overseen by the service providers and users and businesses access their

services via the Internet through subscription agreements with the providers. This allows clients

to harness powerful computing capabilities without the hustle of running and maintaining the

hardware and software. Using cloud services eliminates the need to manage, maintain, or back

up the activity; businesses can put more resources in and focus on their goals. Clients focus on

functions for day-to-day business operations, including processing applications, storage, data

management, etc., without doing any infrastructure-related work (HPE, n.d.).

Industry Overview

Since Amazon started offering cloud services to other websites or clients in 2006, other

tech companies quickly joined this type of service. Currently, some of the largest and most

successful cloud service providers are Amazon (AWS), Microsoft (Azure), Google (GCP), and

IBM (Kyndryl). Serverless computing has freed businesses from running their infrastructure and

allowed workers to have access anywhere on any device, laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.,

through any internet browser. It switches the traditional business to a cost-efficient way. No

matter where the businesses are, as long as there are internet connections, all the information and

tools stored in the cloud are available to clients through subscription services, without the large

initial investment, businesses can put more resources into operations. According to Mordor
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Intelligence’s report, the demand for cloud services continues growing and it will reach 22.6%

by 2026 (Foote, 2022).

Since 2023, Many companies have been adding AI (Artificial Intelligence) to their

existing products and services, such as cloud services merging with AI features to provide

opportunities to businesses. As Gewirtz pointed out, AI can help in many ways: routine tasks can

be managed by AI; besides, AI can be good at analyzing data, such as customer usage patterns,

sentiment analysis, etc., to provide more details to clients and open more doors for their

businesses; additionally, customer support can hand to AI through chat or email, leaves human

workers to deal with more complex problems; furthermore, as a valuable component, AI can

assist humans in various ways to improve their work performance. The partnership formed by AI

and cloud computing has improved clients' work experience at a much lower cost and more

effective manner (Gewirtz, 2023).

Microsoft

Served as a central nerve center, Microsoft’s main headquarters is located in Redmond,

Washington. Microsoft’s branch offices are all over the world, across different countries and

regions. As one of the largest employers, Microsoft has a workforce of 120,000 individuals in the

United States and an additional 101,000 employees internationally, a total of 221,000 talent from

everywhere (Microsoft, n.d.-b).

Together with Paul Allen, Bill Gates, who was a junior student at Harvard by then,

founded Microsoft in 1975. Bill Gates believed that personal computers would soon be in great

demand and the market would be blooming, he took the chance and guided Microsoft to produce

personal computers, with its operating system (Windows). It gained great success for Gates and

Microsoft. At the age of 26, Gates became a millionaire and then the youngest-ever billionaire at
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age 31. Microsoft has continuously expanded its production: including the well-known Office

and Windows operating systems, Outlook, specialized versions of Office for iPad and Android

tablets, the SQL Server, Visual Studio, etc. Additionally, Microsoft's cloud services added the

Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform – Copilot. Beyond software, Microsoft also offers the

popular Xbox gaming console and the diverse Surface lineup (Microsoft, n.d.-b).

The important members of Microsoft's management are the former CEO and the current

CEO. Bill Gates, the co-founder, and former CEO of Microsoft had overseen the company’s

early development. Microsoft Windows and Office have been used by the population worldwide,

and for many people, Windows was their first computer operating system ever. Gates had built

up the foundation for Microsoft's products and services. Currently, Satya Nadella, serving as

both Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, is in charge of the company’s operation and decision-

making. Nadella has rich experience in different areas of the tech field. He has studied electrical

engineering, computer science, and business administration at various colleges. Nadella has had

great success in his early career at Microsoft as the executive vice president of the Cloud Group.

There, he navigated Microsoft into the competitive landscape of cloud services by possessing an

impressively large market share (Microsoft, n.d.-c).

According to Microsoft's 2023 Annual Report, it was a financially successful year, with

great performance in many products. The earnings were created by providing a wide range of

cloud-based solutions and services. Microsoft Cloud revenue reported a 22% increase, reaching

$111.6 billion. The company had significant growth in various segments, such as Office 365,

Dynamics 365, and Azure; it was fueled by a 10% increase in Office Commercial products and

cloud services revenue, primarily attributed to a 13% growth in Office 365 Commercial.

(Microsoft 2023 Annual Report, 2023). This also led Microsoft to become the most valuable
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company in the world. According to Soni, Microsoft's shares have increased dramatically since

2023, and the company’s fast response aiming to add AI to their products through an investment

in OpenAI proved to be a fantastic move (Soni, 2024).

Microsoft has been rewarded in many areas for many years. In 2023, some of them

include receiving one of the top 100 companies with a strong reputation, recognizing with a

100% rating on the HRC Corporate Equality Index™, and distinguishing itself as one of the

premier "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality." It consistently maintains a top-three of the

leading position in the JUST 100 rankings. Furthermore, as highlighted in the Microsoft Annual

Report for 2023, the products and services have experienced increasing usage and created

substantial profits, showcasing their widespread acceptance from both businesses and individual

customers (Microsoft, n.d.-a).

Microsoft was given a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Glassdoor by the employees, indicating

positive feedback both on the work environment and overall job satisfaction (Glassdoor, n.d.).

Following the information presented in the Microsoft 2023 Annual Report, the year 2023 has

marked the company’s historic achievement, the highest-ever revenue (Microsoft 2023 Annual

Report, 2023). This financial success once again proves the wide market acceptance of

Microsoft’s products and services.

What would happen if AI were added to all the existing technology? Not only Microsoft,

but other tech corporations like IBM, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Facebook have

invested heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and integrated it into their products. This trend has

become a race on which companies can make the most out of AI innovation. Microsoft has made

an investment of $10 billion in OpenAI. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, has declared

that AI is their primary investment focus in the year 2024. As AI becomes the industry’s top
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prioritized investment, it surely plays a pivotal role in tech companies’ success and evolvement.

Amazon tripled its profits during the third quarter of 2023, reaching $9.9 billion. Microsoft

reported revenue growth of nearly 13% compared to the previous year, totaling $56.5 billion

(Davies, 2023).

AI has been a vital component of companies’ existing products and services, including

cloud services. These companies are now looking for qualified software engineers, who can help

their clients with the continuously expanding business. There has been a higher demand for more

software engineers with diverse backgrounds and language skills. Companies strive to meet the

evolving needs and take more market shares. The tech field needs skilled professionals who can

contribute to the development and optimization of solutions by mastering various programming

languages and bringing their experience and talents to the companies. According to Khmelendo's

findings from the survey on StackOverflow, JavaScript stands out as the most widely used

programming language, followed by Python, Java, C#, C++, and others (Khmelenko, 2022).

Part 2 - Myself

To become a software engineer in the Cloud Services + AI field, students who are

currently enrolled in a Computer Science program at CSUMB will benefit through access to

many resources that not only develop their programming skills in multiple languages but also

enhance their understanding via various large-scale projects. This program covers computer

science theory and hands-on experience, especially focusing on software engineering. It will

prepare students to work in the fast-paced tech field and be ready to fit various positions such as

Web Developer or Software Engineer. As illustrated on the CSUMB website, the course CST

338 - Software Design focuses on C++ and comprehensive learning of the software development

life cycle, requirements analysis, and the creation of graphical user interfaces. In CST 336 -
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Internet Programming, students will acquire skills in developing dynamic web applications,

associated frameworks, and databases. As the world population is soon being connected through

the Internet, everything can be accessed via Internet browsers. Internet programming is essential

to the development of a global connection. Additionally, CST 438 - Software Engineering

teaches how to apply principles and techniques of software engineering to large-scale software

development. The program also provides a wide and balanced coverage of database use and

design, operating systems, computer networks, and the basics of game programming.

Furthermore, all the courses operate in a collaborative manner, which will greatly enhance

teamwork skills. This will establish a solid technical foundation for all the students and provide

practical experiences that will contribute to student’s career development in the software

engineering field (CSUMB, n.d.).

The elective courses offered in this program will enhance students’ collaborative abilities

and develop communication skills and other soft skills for soon-to-be proficient programmers.

For example, the course CST 300 - Major ProSeminar focuses on strengthening college-level

writing skills, which will be beneficial in students’ future. Similarly, CST 462S - Race, Gender,

Class in the Digital World further prepares students with critical thinking skills on issues of race,

gender, class, and social justice, especially in today's digital world. It helps students gain an

understanding of addressing questions related to justice, equality, social responsibilities, and the

intricate societal impact of technology. It prepares students to become better people and makes

society a better place for everyone (CSUMB, n.d.).

The courses completed at local community colleges may have prepared students with a

wide range of knowledge in programming and early networking with professionals in the field.

By completing Computer Architecture and Organization and Discrete Structures courses,

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students can establish the foundation for hands-on programming experiences. Additionally,

Calculus I and II courses will make sure students better understand computer science-related

study materials in future learning. The Programming Concepts Methodology I and II have

engaged students in numerous C++ projects to develop their skills. With such knowledge and

experience, students are well-prepared for their current Computer Science program at CSUMB

and future careers.

To get hired as a qualified software engineer, multiple approaches can be taken. Firstly,

students should start looking for internships in tech companies, to gain valuable practical

experience. Being an intern sometimes means to get one foot in the door. When there are job

openings at these companies, the employers tend to first consider their interns. Additionally,

students should stay well-informed about the ever-changing field, keep track of tech news and

news of these companies, engaging themselves with industry trends, innovations, and emerging

technologies. Overall, this will help students to become competitive candidates. Moreover,

recognizing the dynamic nature of the job market, students should maintain a proactive approach

by regularly monitoring job openings in the field or asking for referrals from others who are

already working in these companies. This strategy will enable students to explore opportunities

and allow them to align and adjust their skills with the demands of the industry. Through this

approach, students will build a solid foundation, with industry insights, and a professional

network, to become a software engineer in this challenging and rewarding industry.

Conclusion

The journey toward building a career in software engineering is marked by a well-crafted

strategy, integrating insights from research of software engineering in the Cloud and AI industry,

exploration of Microsoft’s history and key players, products and services, reputation and trends,
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and the preparation gained from CSUMB online CS program and students’ past learning

experiences. The industry overview has provided a deep understanding of the dynamic

landscape, underscoring the importance of staying abreast of technological advancements and

market trends. Examining a major company in the field, such as Microsoft, should have given

students valuable information about the practical applications of software engineering within a

pioneering organization. Within the current program, students should find themselves in a

curriculum designed to develop their technical skills. They should aim to enrich their practical

experiences, catch networking opportunities, and align their skills with the demands of the

industry. Microsoft, as a major player in the field, provides many areas for employees' growth

and learning. By consistently monitoring job openings and capitalizing on the opportunities

Microsoft and similar companies offer, students should be ready to work as a software engineer

within two years of the program.

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References

CSUMB. (n.d.). Computer Science, BS Online Degree Completion. Retrieved from

https://catalog.csumb.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=9&poid=1922&returnto=487

Davies, P. (2023, October 27). Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon: AI instrumental in cloud race

as Big Tech makes a comeback. Retrieved from

https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/10/27/microsoft-alphabet-and-amazon-ai-

instrumental-in-cloud-race-as-big-tech-makes-a-comeback

Foote, K. D. (2022, December 22). Cloud Computing Trends in 2023. Retrieved from

https://www.dataversity.net/cloud-computing-trends-in-2023/

Gewirtz, D. (2023, March 20). The future of cloud computing, from hybrid to edge to AI-

powered. Retrieved from https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-future-of-cloud-computing-

from-hybrid-to-edge-to-ai-powered/

Glassdoor. (n.d.). Microsoft Reviews. Retrieved from

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Microsoft-Reviews-E1651.htm

HPE. (n.d.). What are Cloud Services? Retrieved from https://www.hpe.com/us/en/what-

is/cloud-services.html

Khmelenko, D. (2022, December 24). Software Engineering Trends For 2023. Retrieved from

https://medium.com/geekculture/software-engineering-trends-for-2023-1bebb7819239

Microsoft. (n.d.-a). Awards and recognition. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-

us/corporate-responsibility/recognition

Microsoft. (2023). Annual Report 2023. Retrieved from

https://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar23/index.html
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Microsoft. (n.d.-b). Facts About Microsoft. Retrieved from https://news.microsoft.com/facts-

about-microsoft/

Microsoft. (n.d.-c). Executive Officers: Satya Nadella. Retrieved from

https://news.microsoft.com/exec/satya-nadella-2/

Soni, A. (2024, January 11). Microsoft briefly overtakes Apple as world's most valuable

company. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-overtakes-

apple-worlds-most-valuable-company-2024-01-11/