As the FinOps Foundation mission expands from a cloud-specific focus to technology value, we trace 5 decades of cost management evolution—from the conclusion of the Apollo missions to the dawn of Artemis. This session explores the journey from punch cards and microprocessors to GPUs and Agentic AI, proving that while technology shifts, the foundation of value remains.
Drawing on Applied Materials’ 50-year operating history, we will share how timeless FinOps concepts—including automation, metrics-driven decision making, and rigorous cost governance—continue to shape modern practice. Attendees will learn core infrastructure management and optimization concepts that have stood the test of time, focusing specifically on automation, core principles, and solving today’s FinOps problems. In a world changing faster than we can keep up, we guarantee you’ll walk away feeling great about tomorrow.