Latest news with #PatCasey
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Pat Casey: ‘When I was hired there were only two job titles at ServiceNow'
When Pat Casey joined ServiceNow around two decades ago, he was employee number nine at the digital workflow company . It now has than 26,000 employees worldwide. Casey is credited as one of the founders of the company – although not, he stresses, the founder. That title belongs to American Fred Luddy, who set up ServiceNow in the US in 2003 as Glidesoft. The pair had worked at Peregrine Systems – Luddy as chief technology officer, Casey as a product author – before the company went bankrupt. After that, Casey moved on to Adobe Systems before joining ServiceNow. 'When I was hired, there were only two job titles in the company: there was developer and Fred Luddy. And I was not Fred Luddy, so I was hands on the keyboard for probably the first 10 years or so,' he says. READ MORE 'I gradually moved up to into management. We had a gap there. I don't think we had a lot of people who knew the technology, knew how the teams worked and the personalities, how to actually get the stuff done.' These days, Casey has multiple job titles. He is chief technology officer, and executive vice-president of development operations, leading a team of more than 9,000 people across AI, product, and quality engineering, developer productivity, cloud services, advanced technologies, and customer service and support. 'I've got a really strong team. My phone doesn't tend to ring at two o'clock in the morning much these days, but it used to,' he says. 'My wife had a coffee pot she would just set out most nights, and she would say 'Your phone's going to ring at two o'clock in the morning. Just come down and start the coffee'. About half the nights of the week I would be hitting that coffee pot at 2am.' Casey has seen ServiceNow navigate some of the best and worst times in the tech world. But the most significant development for ServiceNow was not just the internet but the point at which people figured out how to use it effectively in businesses. 'I'd say it took the industry five to seven years to take that technology from working technology to a family of use cases, and that's sort of where ServiceNow came in. We're like, 'Hey, we can take this internet technology, we can apply it to make business workflows better',' he says. 'If we had tried that in 1995 we would have failed, because the technology wasn't there for it, whereas 2004 it had just reached the point where you could pull it off.' Since then, there have numerous developments – cloud computing, the proliferation of data centres, and now artificial intelligence. That has translated into a business that generated more than $3 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, with a growth rate of around 19 per cent year on year. In 2024, it generated more than $10 billion (€8.56 billion) in revenue, and recorded gross profit of around $9 billion. Again, growth was in double digits compared to the previous year. ServiceNow is already utilising the new generation of technology, integrating AI-based large language models into the company's products. Casey says it is still early days for AI though. [ AI use by Irish companies doubles Opens in new window ] 'We've got a technology that is still very rapidly evolving. The models of today are dramatically bigger and more sophisticated. But the use cases – people are still struggling to find a really resonant set of use cases. 'And you see some false starts in the world of consumer AI, a lot of us have AI fatigue,' he says. While AI is disappointing consumers in some areas, Casey thinks the expectations of AI are more closely aligned with what the technology really does in the enterprise space. 'In the consumer space, you want a personal assistant that is empathetic and understands you. Technology is not there yet. You can mimic aspects of it but I think you end up with sort of this technology uncanny valley – it's good enough to tempt you to use it, but not necessarily good enough for you to delegate tasks to it,' he explains. 'In the enterprise space, it tends to be more structured interactions. The business world actually works on structure, which is easier for these models to operate over.' With the technology changing so rapidly, it must be hard for companies to stay abreast of things. Casey is quietly confident that the company can keep up with the current demands of its customers and their future needs. Key to that is making sure the platform isn't dependent on a single model, and that newer models can be easily added as they are developed. Pat Casey: 'I have made a lot of choices in my career that were career optimising' 'We've mitigated the risk there, because we have separated our logical layer from the underlying model implementations. We have made a choice that we're going to support all the big frontier models, and we have internal models as well.' It is not just about delivering the technology to its customers though. ServiceNow uses AI in its day-to-day business, including in coding. However, Casey does not see a point just yet when AI takes over the entire process, as other tech companies have mooted, with small productivity gains rather than earth-shattering shifts. 'The place where it still falls down is it doesn't know our code base. So if I asked it to do something sophisticated over a big, beefy code base, like ServiceNow's it doesn't really know beyond the class it's looking at. So that ability is not to my eye there yet for a big enterprise-scale code base.' Despite recent reports about AI sabotaging instructions that would shut the models down, or threatening blackmail for human workers who may try to shut them down, Casey is not concerned about AI going rogue as such. Today's models are less sophisticated than they seem, he says, describing it as the illusion of consciousness. 'There's no awareness loop in there. It's just a very sophisticated system that it can act like it understands, but like there is even no concept of shutting down a model. It's stateless,' he says. 'I'm less concerned about those scenarios with today's technology. The thing I keep harping on in the enterprise context is people need to think about the security context, where they're willing to trust and run the AI. 'The assumption that the AI agents are going to be better behaved than humans, I think is a false assumption. From an ethical standpoint, most humans are going do the right thing most of the time.' One risk he sees from AI though is in the training of new engineers. As AI agents take over more and more tasks, it leaves fewer opportunities for new engineers to cut their teeth and gain the experience they need to progress. 'The challenge would be ... how do I get a smart 18-year-old kid, who's motivated to work in this field, trained up on algorithms and the codebase? 'Because right now, half of that's in school, and half of it's on the job... It feels like we've got to change the pipeline there so we still have people flowing into the field.' It is not just AI that is causing uncertainty in the tech sector. The current geopolitical instability, a potential trade war sparked by the Trump administration , the threat of tariffs and repercussions against companies that do not bring operations back to the US – all are causing ripples of anxiety, which is never good for business stability. [ Q&A: What does the latest Trump tariff move mean for Ireland? Opens in new window ] So far though ServiceNow has not seen a big problem. 'We won't say uniquely in the tech industry, but we're in a weird 'tweener' state. We're obviously US based, so we're going to follow all the US laws, but we've got a very big presence here [Ireland],' he says. 'We've got an obligation to follow the legislation and the laws here. So I think the dynamic we're seeing right now is that we're in a bit of a wait and see. We clearly would love to continue doing business successfully here, and right now, we believe we can, but you can't predict the future fully.' Dublin is one of the company's biggest non-US engineering sites outside India. Casey says it originally began as user interface development, but pivoted over the years to application and tool development, too, along with AI teams. ServiceNow is in its growth stages here, with the announcement of 400 jobs in 2023. The original plan was to grow over three or four years, but Casey says they are in advance of the schedule. 'The advantage of Dublin is, this has been a big tech centre for 20, 25 years,' he says. 'There's a lot of domestic talent here.' Is there anything he would have done differently in his career? 'I have made a lot of choices in my career that were career optimising. I look back at this point, like, I've been extremely successful, I think by most people's standards, but I missed out a lot of stuff in my family,' he says. 'I wasn't there for a lot of my son's basketball games; I wasn't there for a lot of my daughter's dance recitals. 'Right now, I can spend a lot of time with them. There's benefits, right? But there's costs, too. There's a cost benefit there. I don't know if I'll be lying on my deathbed thinking 'Man, I was on the right side of the cost-benefit curve', or if I may be laying on my deathbed saying, 'Man, I made the wrong call'. I just know this is where I landed right now. 'I'm an engineer, I like building things. I personally take an enormous amount of satisfaction out of building stuff and seeing people use it. To me, that's the loop that keeps me going. That's the thing I couldn't I don't think I could operate without. 'If there was a way for me to get that same feedback loop with less side effects, I probably would make that set of choices. But right now, I don't know that there is, or there was.' CV Name: Pat Casey Job: CTO and EVP, Dev Ops, ServiceNow Lives: Del Mar, California Family: Corinna (wife), Allison (daughter), Anthony (son), Whiskey and Saki (dogs) Something you might expect: He has embraced AI and remains realistic about its benefits. Something that might surprise: He was once chased out of the woods by a black bear while backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains.
CNBC
12-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
High demand for more localized AI options, says ServiceNow CTO
Pat Casey, Co-Founder and CTO of ServiceNow, discusses the company's latest launch in Singapore, the ServiceNow Protected Platform. He dives deeper into how the Singapore's secure, regulatory-compliant sovereign AI platform is designed to accelerate AI innovation in the city state.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Echelon promises over 9,000 jobs as Taoiseach launches Wicklow data centres
Launched by Taoiseach Mícheál Martin, who also officially opened Arklow's Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning, the DUB20 and DUB30 facilities will see the rejuvenation of the underutilised, brown industrial site (IFI site), restoring the industrial area to its former resource as a major employer and economic hub, along with the creation of the DUB30 campus at Kish Business Park, just south of Arklow. The milestone launch came with a promise of huge investment in the region, with the expansive projects ensuring a capital investment that Senator Pat Casey commented would be the 'largest private capital investment in the history of Wicklow'. Echelon will invest an estimated €3.5bn to develop the DUB20 and DUB30 sites, creating around 2,600 direct jobs during construction and 715 permanent positions at the two facilities once they are operational. However, an Economic Impact Assessment report prepared for Echelon by KPMG has calculated that the potential economic output of the DUB20 and DUB30 sites could be as much as €7.5bn during the construction phase, and €801m per year once both campuses are operational. The report found that every €1 Echelon invests in the DUB20 and DUB30 sites could yield a return of €1.60 due to additional economic activity through supply chains and employee spending across construction and operational phases. It also found that for every 10 jobs created during construction, up to nine additional jobs will be supported elsewhere in the economy, while every 10 direct operational roles could sustain a further 16 jobs. Detailing the economic benefits of DUB20 and DUB30, Echelon's chief operating officer Graeme McWilliams said: 'Echelon's sites in Wicklow will generate broad-based economic value with measurable impact across the Irish economy that goes far beyond the initial investment. 'They represent responsible data centre development which supports regional development and job creation in partnership with good grid citizenship. 'The raw materials in Arklow are phenomenal, not just the actual sites, but the town itself and the broader community.' He added: 'DUB20, which we expect construction to begin on next month, will be the first large-scale data centre campus outside the Dublin metro area. It is an opportunity to rejuvenate this site and return it to a major source of employment and investment that is fully integrated into the community. 'From 2018, the Echelon strategy acknowledged early signs of energy grid capacity constraints, and the requirement for significant renewable power. Echelon focused on large regional sites, where energy wasn't constrained, and close to future renewable power projects. 'Echelon has invested heavily in state-of-the-art power generation systems, rather than being a burden to the electricity grid, Echelon contributes. Our sites will import power from the grid when available, but in times of constraints, our power generation systems actually export power to the grid.' Mr Williams also noted that the company is already prioritising local industry in their supply chain, which will expand as the projects commence, while also pledging to continue their investment in Wicklow communities, already evidenced by the €1.5m sponsorship deal with Wicklow GAA. 'It has taken since 2018 to progress these projects to where they are today, and during that time, we have also worked to embed ourselves into Arklow and the wider Wicklow communities,' he said. 'We have built relationships from a business perspective that we value very highly, including LMH Engineering, who are bringing their innovation to our project in Clondalkin, and we look forward to working with them on our Arklow projects. 'It's also been very important for us to develop relationships with the people of Arklow and County Wicklow, as seen in our long-term sponsorship of Arklow Rugby Club and Wicklow GAA . 'We look forward to continuing our support of these organisations, and widening our reach to other organisations in the future.' Echoing those sentiments, the Taoiseach said that, from conversations, he has 'a very clear grasp of the enormity of this project, and the potential for Arklow and Wicklow'. 'These campuses will contribute greatly to the local and wider economy, creating hundreds of full-time employment opportunities when it is operational, and thousands of jobs during construction,' he said. 'Echelon's agreement with SSE to develop shared grid infrastructure marks the first time in Ireland that an offshore wind farm and data centre have agreed to this. This is the model that will play an important role in reaching our energy and decarbonisation targets, while contributing to economic development. "These two large-scale facilities demonstrate Echelon's commitment to responsible data centre development. They are located in a regional area where the grid isn't constrained, they will have the capacity to generate and dispatch power to the grid when needed, and they will facilitate the generation of renewable energy resources that will, in turn, help decarbonise Ireland's electricity system. 'They are the model for future data centre development in Ireland – and they will deliver jobs and economic benefits for Wicklow, and will encourage further foreign direct investment in Ireland. 'I think today is a great day for Wicklow.' Local senator Pat Casey, who has been working diligently to see the Echelon projects come to fruition, said that the momentous day for Arklow and Wicklow also sends out a 'positive message to the international community that Arklow is ready and has the potential for future opportunities'. 'Earlier today, the Taoiseach officially opened Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant, a significant day over three decades in the waiting, and now with the launch of DUB20 and DUB30, today really is a milestone for Arklow and Wicklow. 'This is the largest private capital investment in Wicklow's history, with the two largest construction sites we'll see for decades. You will see thousands of construction jobs sustained over five years, and hundreds on completion, never mind the additional benefit that will be brought to the local economy and job creation. 'Arklow soon will be the home of several top ten tech companies in the world, if not the top five, locating their infrastructure and assets here.' The data centre launch was the second stop on the Taoiseach's tour of Arklow, having officially opened Arklow's €139 million Wastewater Treatment Plant earlier this morning. Joining councillors and TDs at the state-of-the-art facility in Ferrybank, the ceremonial opening marked a landmark moment for local representatives and community members who have campaigned to end a block on connections for new housing developments and the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Avoca River. After Wicklow leas cathaoirleach Melanie Corrigan spoke, the Taoiseach addressed the crowd, saying: 'It's great to be here in Arklow to open the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and I met the legendary Arklow councillor Pat Fitzgerald on the way in, who is claiming 40 years' credit for getting to this stage! 'I just want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to everyone involved. To say that this is an outstanding milestone of progress in terms of water quality in Ireland. 'This is a landmark facility, and a very important and impressive piece of modern infrastructure. 'One newspaper even had a headline asking if this was in fact the world's most beautiful sewage treatment plant, and it did win the prestigious Downes medal award, which is the Architectural Association of Ireland's highest honour. 'The community spirit of Wicklow has been evident throughout, because an essential project of this scale cannot happen without patience, and you have had an abundance of that, along with cooperation and support of the people of Arklow. 'Thank you for your engagement, and I hope you will reap the benefits and enjoy the outcome of many years of hard work.'
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Jim Carrey and Keanu Reeves-starrer Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to stream exclusively on Prime Video India from 24 April
Prime Video has officially announced that Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the latest blockbuster in the popular action-adventure comedy series from Paramount Pictures and SEGA, will premiere exclusively on the streaming platform in India starting 24 April. The film will be available in both English and Hindi. Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 builds on the globally renowned video game franchise and features a screenplay by Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington. Jim Carrey returns in a dual role, leading a stellar live-action cast including James Marsden, Krysten Ritter, Tika Sumpter and Lee Majdoub. The voice cast boasts Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Colleen O'Shaughnessey and, in a franchise debut, Keanu Reeves, who voices the enigmatic Shadow the Hedgehog – a performance already lauded by fans for its blend of brooding intensity and dry wit. Following an impressive run at the global box office, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has emerged as the highest-grossing film in the series and one of the top cinematic hits of 2024. This latest chapter includes Sonic reuniting with Knuckles and Tails for their most ambitious mission yet. The trio must take on Shadow, a powerful new adversary with abilities that threaten to unravel everything they've fought to protect. Facing global peril, Team Sonic must forge unlikely alliances in a high-stakes battle to save the planet. With thrilling action, state-of-the-art CGI and deeper emotional arcs, the film elevates the franchise to new heights. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will stream exclusively on Prime Video India starting 24 April. The film is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
