Yesterday, I hosted an Orlando AWS User Group meetup at UCF. We had a great turnout, but as always, I bought way too much pizza (I blame my upbringing, which is that everyone must eat until they are completely stuffed). So, as we were wrapping up, I started handing out slices to anyone nearby.
One of those lucky recipients was a student majoring in film. As we chatted, I could tell they were curious about the tech buzz in the room. But the unspoken question lingered:
Why should someone in film care about AWS or cloud computing at all?
Here’s my answer, not just for that student but for everyone reading this:
You need to learn about cloud computing.
And you really need to learn about AI.
The Future Isn't Coming—It's Already Here
We tend to associate cloud computing with software engineers, system architects, and DevOps folks. But the truth is, the cloud is powering everything—from the apps on your phone to the CGI rendering engines in your favorite blockbuster films.
AI? It's not just for techies in lab coats anymore. It’s generating storyboards, editing footage, optimizing marketing campaigns, and even editing scripts.
Why It Matters—No Matter Your Major
Whether you’re in film, marketing, healthcare, agriculture, education, or any other industry—cloud and AI are the invisible engines behind today’s innovation.
In film, cloud services like AWS render farms help produce high-quality visuals faster and cheaper. AI tools are revolutionizing editing workflows, enhancing sound design, and creating personalized viewer experiences.
In education, AI is shaping personalized learning paths. Cloud computing supports scalable platforms for remote learning.
In healthcare, AI is accelerating diagnostics, predicting disease outbreaks, and improving patient outcomes. Cloud platforms store and process massive amounts of medical data securely—enabling faster research and collaboration across the globe.
In marketing, machine learning predicts trends, automates campaigns, and analyzes customer behavior in real time.
In farming and agriculture, AI is driving precision farming—analyzing soil data, monitoring crop health with drones, and optimizing irrigation. The cloud powers real-time dashboards and data pipelines that help farmers make smarter decisions and improve yields sustainably.
In business, data-driven decisions are no longer optional. They're critical. And where does all that data live? You guessed it—the cloud.
You Don’t Have to Be a Coder to Be Cloud-Literate
Knowing the basics of cloud computing doesn't mean you have to spin up an EC2 instance tomorrow (though that would be cool). It means understanding how modern tools work so you can make informed decisions, collaborate better with technical teams, and stay competitive in your field.
AI literacy is becoming just as essential. With generative tools, prompt engineering, and low-code/no-code platforms, you don’t have to be an ML expert to harness the power of artificial intelligence—but you do need to understand what’s happening under the hood at a high level.
And yes, you don’t have to be a coder, but please don’t just start "vibe" coding. I’ve seen it too many times: folks diving into tools and services without understanding the underlying principles. You will have a bad time if you don’t understand the fundamentals. Take the time to learn the “why” behind the tech. It will save you countless hours and headaches later.
Because let’s be real—just clicking around in the AWS console without a plan is like getting behind the wheel without learning how to drive—sooner or later, something’s going to crash.
“But I’m a Hermit on a Mountain-Top…”
Ok, fine—you probably don’t need to learn about cloud computing if you’re truly off-grid, living that solar-powered, goat-herding, no-internet life (i.e. every Senior Engineer's dream).
But… I have a question.
How are you reading this post? 🤔
If you’re connected enough to be scrolling dev.to, LinkedIn, or whatever platform you found a link to this post on, then you’re already participating in a cloud-powered world.
It’s okay to be skeptical of change. It’s healthy, even. But if you don’t want to make yourself obsolete, you’ve got to be willing to learn. You don’t have to chase every shiny new tool, but being a Luddite to all new tech won’t serve you either.
Adaptation isn't just for survival—it’s for thriving.
Final Thought: Curiosity Is Your Superpower
That film student didn’t come to school that day expecting a tech pitch, but they walked away thinking a little differently. And that’s all it takes—a spark of curiosity.
So, if you’re reading this and you think cloud computing and AI aren’t for you, I challenge you to reconsider. Start small. Watch a YouTube video. Try a beginner-friendly course. Come to a user group meetup (we’ll have pizza 🍕).
The future belongs to the curious—and the cloud-enabled.
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