In this episode of our Prediction Video Series, Scott Sellers, CEO and Co-Founder of Azul, predicts that by 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) will become mainstream in enterprise production workloads running Java, moving beyond exploratory use cases.

Sellers believes AI will become deeply integrated into applications, improving areas such as recommendation engines, algorithmic trading, legal compliance, and supply chain automation. Sellers predicts that large language models (LLMs) will increasingly be embedded into real-time business processes, enhancing customer experiences and enabling enterprises to personalize services at scale. Azul already has solutions like Azul Intelligence Cloud, aimed at helping Java developers leveraging AI.

Sellers also highlights the importance of Java developer productivity tools and FinOps practices for optimizing cloud spend. Challenges include managing AI’s impact and prioritizing practical AI applications. Azul aims to continue its high growth, particularly in migrating customers off Oracle Java to open source solutions and leveraging ARM processors in cloud environments.

Companies will increasingly adopt solutions that help developers prioritize tasks, eliminate wasted effort, and streamline workflows. FinOps practices are also expected to gain widespread adoption as enterprises work to optimize cloud spend.

Discussing the challenges in the broader ecosystem, Sellers identifies AI as both an opportunity and a distraction. Enterprises are under pressure to define their AI strategy, and one of the key challenges they face is balancing practical applications with innovations. Sellers believes that companies successfully focusing on real-world AI value will gain a competitive advantage. In addition, independent software vendors (ISVs) like Azul must determine how AI can enhance their offerings and prioritize product development accordingly.

Azul’s focus for the year will be to sustain its high growth while expanding its market reach. The company will continue to prioritize helping enterprises migrate away from Oracle Java, offering an open-source alternative that delivers significant cost savings. As cloud adoption accelerates, Sellers notes a growing preference for ARM processors due to their cost and performance benefits. Sellers talks about why Azul supports this shift and why it will make it easier for enterprises to optimize cloud infrastructure.

Sellers concludes by emphasizing the importance of focusing on practical AI applications and optimizing cloud spend to improve enterprise efficiency. Seller highlights the growing market potential of Azul’s solutions as enterprises seek high-performance, cost-effective solutions to support their evolving business needs.

Guest: Scott Sellers (LinkedIn) 
Company: Azul
Show: 2025 Prediction Series

This summary was written by Emily Nicholls.