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Today at Red Hat Summit we’re excited to talk about intelligent edge. It’s the critical frontier where real-world operations are being revolutionized by  intelligence. Our recent announcements at Red Hat Summit – from our growing collaboration with ABB to the ISO26262 ASIL-B safety certification of Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System and the introduction of Red Hat Edge Manager – these aren't just evolutionary steps. They're a clear signal: the edge is where the future growth of computing is, and Red Hat is actively equipping you to be a leader in this evolution.

For too long, the edge has been viewed as just another spot to place workloads with tactical proximity or convenience. But at Red Hat, we see something fundamentally different. This isn't about extending the data center; it's about transforming how businesses operate and how organizations can make a difference in their bottom line. Think about it: bringing compute power and, crucially, intelligence right to where the data bursts into existence. That's where real value is unlocked.

Edge AI is driving real-world impact, right now

The fuel accelerating this transformation? AI. The synergy between the edge and AI is a game changer. That's why we're doubling down with initiatives like Red Hat AI Inference Server and llm-d, a community project to power distributed generative AI (gen AI) inference at scale. We're not just talking about deploying AI at the edge; we're making it practical, scalable and efficient. Imagine real-time decisions being made right where they matter the most and enhancing safety in autonomous vehicles, predicting equipment failures before they happen and crafting truly personalized experiences. This isn't science fiction; it's the power of localized intelligence.

Built on trust, proven in the field

Our confidence in the edge isn't theoretical. For years, we've collaborated with customers and partners in the most demanding industries – telecom, manufacturing, energy, automotive, retail and more. We understand what mission-critical really means. Our open hybrid cloud solutions aren't just about future possibilities, they're about building on your existing investments while seamlessly integrating the AI-driven edge capabilities you need now.

Take the automotive industry, for example. Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System is safety-certified Linux designed for the software-defined vehicles of tomorrow (and today, really). Vehicles are becoming smarter with AI and their capacity to process massive amounts of data across domain functions, with frequent capability upgrades through software. Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System accelerates these software innovations, processes information in real time and revolutionizes the in-car experience at a lower development cost and faster time-to-market. Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System is enabling advanced, embedded intelligence without compromising safety. And Red Hat is not working in a silo here. This level of transformation requires constant collaboration. While automakers have long relied on a diverse ecosystem of suppliers, the shift towards a software-centric design approach necessitates new partnerships and ways of working. Red Hat is actively cultivating these collaborations for Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System to effectively underpin this transformation.

Edge is also revolutionizing operations in manufacturing. We're seeing a decisive shift away from outdated, hardware-centric systems. For example, ABB and Red Hat have announced an expanded collaboration to develop future-proof automation systems, enabling more secure, modular deployment of control applications for process industries. Our edge platform empowers manufacturers to consolidate hardware, embrace commercial off-the-shelf solutions and gain unprecedented agility in managing their industrial workloads. By converting virtualized and containerized applications on a single, agile platform, manufacturers can bring modularity to their shop floors, improve systems security and minimize downtime for mission-critical manufacturing processes, paving the way for smart factories. 

Red Hat is bringing the power of software-defined infrastructure right to the factory floor, reducing complexity and accelerating their digital transformation. The edge is where the physical and digital worlds truly converge in manufacturing.

Streamline infrastructure and oversight with Red Hat Edge Manager

Let's be honest, managing a sprawling edge environment can feel overwhelming. That's where Red Hat Edge Manager steps in. It's your centralized command center for the distributed edge. Red Hat Edge Manager provides end-to-end lifecycle management – from security-enhanced onboarding to decommissioning – simplifying OS and configuration updates, and orchestrating workload deployments. It's about bringing order to the edge, providing the visibility, control and automation you need to scale with confidence.

With Red Hat's open hybrid cloud solutions, the future of intelligent operations is at the edge, and we're ready to help you seize it.

Hatville: miniature city where edge computing comes to life

Hatville. Explore this tiny metropolis and experience how edge computing can revolutionize industries all around us.

About the author

Francis Chow is currently VP & GM, In-vehicle Operating System and Edge at Red Hat. Previously, he spent five years at VMware and was VP, Operations, Business Development and Strategy of the Telco and Edge Cloud Business Unit. Prior to VMware, Chow spent about 20 years in the semiconductor industry in leadership roles spanning across Engineering, Corporate Development, Marketing and Sales, and was a VP/GM for a $1B P&L before venturing into the software world. Chow holds an MBA and an MSEE from University of California at Berkeley and a BSEE from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has seven US patents.

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