Welcome to the Cloud Wars Minute — your daily news and commentary show, hosted by Cloud Wars Founder Bob Evans. Each episode provides insights and perspectives around the “reimagination machine” that is the Cloud.
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In this Cloud Wars Minute, Bob Evans defines the ways in which Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s “AI obsession” is hurting Microsoft Cloud.
Highlights
00:40 — It is getting to the point where Bob believes that Microsoft needs to step forward and clarify the things having to do with what he refers to as Satya Nadella’s “AI obsession” and the impact that it could have on the Microsoft Cloud business.
00:57 — It is perfectly wonderful that Microsoft wants to be the leader of AI — Nadella has the vision and the company has the technological capabilities to be a big player here — but the way that Nadella has framed this notion is contrary to his typical clear and concise vision.
01:22 — Nadella has said, very publicly, that “AI is the new computing platform” and that it is “the next major wave of computing.” Sounds interesting. If that’s the case, what is the old one? What is the new computing wave replacing? Currently, Bob believes that the cloud is the major computing platform.
01:53 — Bob asked three questions to Microsoft’s PR firm:
- If AI is the “new computing platform,” is it replacing the cloud?
- If AI is indeed the next major wave of computing,” what is the cloud, in Microsoft’s description?
- How are those two technologies going to work together?
The answer? A resounding “no comment.”
02:32 — On behalf of tens of thousands of businesses that, in 2022, invested $100 billion in Microsoft Cloud, Microsoft needs to be more forthcoming and transparent about how it sees the role of AI and the cloud.
03:03 — On the earnings call, Nadella, who tends to be a great communicator, talked non-stop about AI.
03:34 — If Bob were a CEO of a mid-sized company who had just invested millions of dollars in Microsoft, he says he would be wondering if he just invested in the “old thing” as AI is the “new computing platform.” There needs to be responsibility taken by leading companies. Microsoft certainly needs to be clear about where things are going.
04:24 — Now is the time for “razor-sharp,” clear communication about the coming role and influence that AI will have on everybody’s business.
