Stream: Wellington A
Time: 12:15 - 13:00
Mainframe syslogs generate vast amounts of data every second, yet extracting meaningful, actionable intelligence from them has traditionally relied on manual effort and hard-coded rules. In this session, I will share my personal journey of building a Proof of Concept (PoC) for AI-driven Mainframe Syslog Automation — from the initial idea through to a working solution. I'll cover the challenges faced, the technologies explored, and the lessons learned along the way — including how AI and machine learning techniques can be applied to detect patterns, identify anomalies, and ultimately reduce the operational burden on Mainframe teams. Whether you are a seasoned Mainframe professional curious about AI, or an AI enthusiast looking to understand real-world enterprise applications, this session will offer honest, practical insights into what it takes to bring these two worlds together.
There is currently no attachment for From Logs to Intelligence: A Journey Building a Mainframe Syslog AI Automation Proof of Concept
Stephen Spence is a Expert Systems Engineer with over 40 years of IT experience on IBM Mainframe, my career began in Operations before evolving into increasingly technical roles — designing and supporting customised batch processes and identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation. Throughout my career I have developed automated solutions using a range of Mainframe technologies, including COBOL, PL/1, CLISTs, REXX, and most recently Python, always looking at how new tools and approaches can enhance and modernise existing applications. Currently, my focus is on automation and Proof of Concept development — turning innovative ideas into working solutions that can grow into full production processes. My latest PoC explores the exciting intersection of Mainframe and Artificial Intelligence, applying AI techniques to Mainframe syslog analysis to automatically detect patterns, identify anomalies, and reduce the manual effort traditionally required by Operations teams. In this session, I will take you through my personal journey of building this Mainframe Syslog AI Automation Proof of Concept — sharing the challenges, the discoveries, and the possibilities that lie ahead for AI-driven Mainframe operations.