Cloud Wars Live with Bob Evans

Key Takeaways Agent transactions : With models like the Universal Commerce Protocol, Google aims to control global agent transactions, relying on Mastercard’s verifiable financial infrastructure to make it viable. Filling voids : Similar to how MCP secures agent access to internal systems, verifiable intent enables agents to securely transact on behalf of humans by closing three gaps in the purcha...

In today’s Cloud Wars Minute, I explore how Oracle is embedding more than 1,000 AI agents into its applications to transform entire industry ecosystems. Highlights 01:18 — I think what we're seeing now here at the cusp of the agentic AI boom is the opportunity for modern technology to transform not just individual companies but entire industries and ecosystems. Oracle said it's now got more than 1...

Key Takeaways Shift in AI focus : As Director of AI at Armanino, Montgomery explains that organizations are shifting from last year’s AI experimentation and demos toward defining real business use cases and operationalizing AI; embedding it into processes, insights, governance, and workforce interactions to transform how the business runs. Session overview : One of her sessions, "From Insight to I...

Key Takeaways Smart friction : AI prioritizes speed and efficiency, but in retail experiences where shoppers value engagement, intentional friction can enhance customer satisfaction and ultimately drive better returns, giving rise to the idea of "smart friction." Use case : Trader Joe’s, for example, deliberately avoids self-checkout to create smart friction, using wait time to immerse customers i...

In this episode of the AI Agent & Copilot Podcast, Giuseppe Ianni, host of the show, is joined by Andrea Pinillos , Senior Technical Program Manager at Microsoft, to discuss practical strategies for enterprise adoption of AI agents and copilots. Pinillos shares insights from her work leading internal Microsoft tooling and previews her upcoming session at the 2026 AI Agent & Copilot Summit NA. Key...

In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I explore how Microsoft is using Copilot Studio and multi-agent orchestration to dramatically improve customer support performance. Highlights 00:09 — Now, one of the best ways to assess the impact of Microsoft Copilot is to examine case studies of the technology in action. Microsoft has announced details of a recent project delivered through Copilot Studio, aimed at...

In this episode of Cloud Wars Live, Bob Evans speaks with Bonnie Tinder, founder and CEO of Raven Intelligence, about the surge of hype, confusion, and opportunity surrounding AI in enterprise technology. As headlines claim AI could replace traditional software and “vibe coding” threatens SaaS vendors, Tinder brings a grounded perspective from years of advising organizations on enterprise systems...

Key Takeaways Session overview : AI is a transformative technology where security is lagging dangerously behind. Polino's session, " A Guide to Security Roles in AI Transformation (Implementation) ," will explore why it's critical for organizations to reassess current roles, controls, and systems and proactively design security strategies specifically for an AI-driven environment. Guardrails : AI...

In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I explain why Oracle’s massive RPO growth proves demand for AI infrastructure is real, not a bubble. Highlights 00:00 — For the last several weeks, we've all been hearing gloom and doom, there's going to be AI overcapacity for data centers, and then talking about all these things that Oracle can't do. I want to talk about this in the context of Oracle's terrific Q3 nu...

In this episode of the AI Agent & Copilot Podcast, Giuseppe Ianni, host of the show, is joined by Diego Araujo, Founder and Chief AI Architect at Fusion Flow Software. Their conversation explores how enterprises are adopting AI agents and copilots within ERP environments, particularly Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. Key Takeaways Start with a “Winning” Use Case : Successful AI adoptio...

In today’s Cloud Wars Minute, I look at ServiceNow’s new Autonomous Workforce and what it means for the future of the digital workforce. Highlights 00:03 — As companies become more familiar with the scope and capabilities of agentic AI , they're seeking more efficient ways to integrate these features into their workflows. And in line with this trend, ServiceNow has launched the Autonomous Workforc...

Key Takeaways Herain Oberoi, Microsoft's general manager for data security, privacy, and compliance, recently held a session where he outlined top security challeneges within the AI era. Specifically, Oberoi outlined three concerns enterprises must address to build secure, scalable AI operations. He stressed strict access controls and disciplined data hygiene to prevent oversharing and sensitive d...

In today’s Cloud Wars Minute, I explain why customer pressure is forcing SAP, Oracle, and Workday to overhaul traditional enterprise software sales models. Highlights 00:01 — Hello my friends. Welcome back to Cloud Wars Minute. We’ve got some big news here because we’ve got SAP, Oracle, and Workday all agreeing on a very key issue here and instituting some changes at the same time. What led to thi...

Key Takeaways Overview : Companies are drowning in AI tools, most of which "do not talk to each other." Today, Microsoft announced Microsoft 365 E7: The Frontier Suite , officially launching May 1st for $99. The suite brings together Microsoft 365 E5, M365 Copilot Wave 3, and Agent 365 . Manage agents : IDC projects 1.3 billion AI agents by 2028, creating major governance, access control, and data...

In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I analyze Oracle’s projected Q3 numbers and the explosive growth of its cloud and AI infrastructure business. Highlights 00:02 — Tomorrow, March 10, Oracle releases its Q3 numbers. I think these will be some of the most interesting we see from any of the Cloud Wars Top 10 companies, because relative to Oracle's size, its growth rates are up near the very top, and its...

In this AI Agent & Copilot Minute, Mason Siefert explores how grocery retailers are accelerating AI adoption behind the scenes — empowering store associates and operational teams — even as consumer trust in customer-facing AI tools remains limited. Key Takeaways Consumer Trust Gap: Despite the rapid rollout of advanced retail AI tools, adoption among consumers remains limited. A recent consumer tr...

In today’s Cloud Wars Minute, I explore OpenAI’s decision to adjust its trillion-dollar AI infrastructure ambitions to reassure investors. Highlights 00:04 — Planned spending commitments amongst the Cloud Wars Top 10 companies have reached astronomical levels. This surge is in response to the anticipated demand for AI infrastructure, products, and services — a market that UN Trade and Development...

Key Takeaways Microsoft leads in risk detection with tools like Defender XDR, but as enterprise data environments grow in scale and complexity, organizations now need AI‑driven security that can automatically investigate and manage risk across the entire data estate, not just detect it. With the January 2026 general release of Purview Data Security Investigations, Microsoft addresses the challenge...

In today’s Cloud Wars Minute, I look at how Workday plans to blend AI agents with its core HR and finance platforms. Highlights 00:03 — One of the big stories of early 2026 is this whole wackiness around how AI is going to destroy the enterprise apps business, particularly SaaS companies. Will it change it? Absolutely and sometimes in profound ways, but not to the elimination of it. This idea that...

In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I explore how Microsoft is accelerating business-process transformation with its expanding Copilot and agent ecosystem. Highlights 00:10 — Microsoft has launched a three-day online boot camp covering how to leverage its expansive toolkit for AI-powered work, beginning with a session titled “Copilots and Agents: What’s New and What’s Next?” 01:01 — Rather than listing...

In this AI Agent & Copilot Minute, Mason Siefert explores Microsoft’s first integrated learning agent for students, explaining how proactive AI modes like Understand, Practice, and Study are reshaping education beyond reactive digital tutors. Key Takeaways Proactive Learning Shift: Microsoft’s newly announced learning agent moves beyond reactive digital tutors by proactively guiding students throu...

In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I explain how AI is fueling Salesforce’s renewed push for innovation and scale. Highlights 00:01 — We've got Salesforce now reporting some very nice numbers for its fiscal Q4 ended January 31. The bigger story behind that, I think, is the company is fully recommitted to growth once again. 01:18 — What Benioff is back to now is to get the company, with the AI Revolutio...

Key Takeaways Laying groundwork : Weiner will be leading a session at the AI Kickstart Preconference, introducing attendees to Copilot Studio and how to build their first custom AI agent. He explains that the session will cover real-world examples and walk through agent creation, deployment, monitoring, and governance to help participants "get the groundwork to take advantage of the future days in...

In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I break down Aneel Bushri’s powerful case for pairing AI with enterprise apps. Highlights 00:02 — There are some wild things going on in the enterprise software business, some of it rational, much of it irrational. But the big issue right now is for customers, partners, and the software vendors, the Cloud Wars Top 10 , to figure out what is going to be the right way f...

In this AI Agent & Copilot Minute, Mason Siefert outlines how Microsoft’s latest enhancements to Copilot Studio — especially the new tools in the Power CAT Copilot Studio Kit — are designed to bring structure, governance, and measurable quality to enterprise-scale AI agents. Key Takeaways Rubrics refinement: The headline feature in the updated kit is the rubrics refinement tool, which addresses a...