Season 5, Episode 36: Lambda Web Functions, Bedrock Cost Visibility, and Data Center Backlash

Season 5, Episode 36 of the LogiCast AWS News Podcast sees Logicata’s Karl Robinson and Jon Goodall joined by returning guest Girish Mukim, AWS architect, AWS Community Builder, and AWS Ambassador, to unpack a wide range of AWS announcements and industry trends. From a major rethink of AWS Lambda with the new web functions model and improved cost visibility for Amazon Bedrock usage to AWS Security Agent’s published penetration testing benchmark results, there’s plenty to get stuck into. The conversation also explores the growing demand for so-called forward deployed engineers, with Girish bringing a real-world perspective on multi-region architecture and the challenges of AI adoption in enterprise banking. And, in true LogiCast fashion, Karl, Jon, and Girish somehow spend a solid few minutes debating the comfort of train seats versus office chairs before remembering they actually have an AWS podcast to record! 04:48 - AWS Lambda Web Functions - Active CPU Billing and Global Endpoints AWS has introduced Lambda Web Functions with active CPU billing and global endpoints. Jon questions how they differ from CloudFront Functions, while Girish highlights their potential for simplifying multi-region API deployments. The group agrees that practical use cases will become clearer over time. 11:56 - AWS Cost Explorer, Budgets, and Dashboards - Amazon Bedrock Cost Visibility AWS now supports detailed Bedrock cost tracking by model, provider, and token usage. Jon highlights opportunities for cost optimisation and attribution, while Girish welcomes improved budgeting capabilities. Karl emphasises the importance of measuring AI costs to demonstrate return on investment. 18:58 - AWS Security Agent - 33 of 37 Critical Vulnerabilities Exploited AWS Security Agent successfully exploited 33 of 37 critical vulnerabilities through their intended paths. Jon highlights challenges in benchmarking AI security tools, while Girish stresses the importance of adopting defensive AI. The group agrees automated testing complements rather than replaces accredited penetration testing. 29:27 - AWS CEO Matt Garman Defends Data Centers Amid Growing Opposition AWS CEO Matt Garman has defended data center expansion amid growing public opposition. Jon questions the reliability of survey findings, while Girish highlights similar resistance internationally. Karl and Jon discuss the disconnect between demand for digital services and opposition to supporting infrastructure, alongside sustainability concerns. 40:53 - AWS and Anthropic Race to Deploy Forward Deployed AI Engineers Demand for forward deployed engineers is surging as AI companies accelerate enterprise adoption. Jon questions whether the role is simply a rebranded senior consultant, while Girish compares the different deployment strategies of AWS, Anthropic, and OpenAI. Karl raises doubts about whether the hiring figures represent genuinely new positions and discusses the uncertain future of entry-level tech careers.