Cloud Wars Live with Bob Evans

Bob Evans
  • 4.7 (17)
  • Technology
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Cloud Wars analyzes the major cloud vendors from the perspective of business customers. In Cloud Wars Live, Bob Evans talks with both sides about these profoundly transformative technologies, and with monthly All-Star guests from across the business community about the trends impacting how the world lives, works, plays, and dreams. Visit https://cloudwars.com for more.

  1. 4h ago

    Dear Andy Jassy: Don't Try to Spin Google Cloud Outgrowing AWS By 2X or 2.5X

    In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I examine why Google Cloud's explosive growth is redefining the competitive landscape ahead of Microsoft and AWS earnings. Highlights 00:03 —We have earnings results coming up later this week from both Microsoft and AWS. Microsoft on July 29, and AWS on July 30. So, that'll give us some nice comparisons to the stunning Q2 that Google Cloud reported last week. Google Cloud will be outgrowing AWS by somewhere between two and a half times at the high end, and at least two times on the low end. 01:02 — Over the last several quarters, Jassy has alluded to Google Cloud, not by name on earnings calls, but he said, "We've got some companies throwing up these fancy high growth rates." What we see with these growth rates is the customers expressing their vote. They are the ultimate arbiters in this decision about who's the hottest company. That's expressed in growth rates. 02:23 — I'm comparing Q2 here for Google Cloud versus Q1 for AWS because, right now, the Q2 numbers aren't out yet. AWS grew at 28%. Google Cloud grew 82%. Say AWS reports this massive acceleration to 40%. They would still be outgrown by Google Cloud by 2X. My guess is AWS's growth rate will come in somewhere around 30% or 31%. 03:22 — It is becoming a little tiresome for these bigger companies to say, "We're bigger than them. Of course, they have a higher growth rate." The customers are voting here. These growth rate disparities are so important because they tell us how the different vendors are doing in the marketplace through the eyes and wallets of customers. 04:01 — In the Cloud Wars, the customers are always, always the big winners. Microsoft and AWS are growing their cloud businesses in the range of 30%, which is astonishing. But Google Cloud posted 82% revenue growth and backlog growth of almost 400% to over $500 billion. By the numbers, Google Cloud is the king of the hill right now. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

  2. 1d ago

    Google Cloud 390% Backlog Growth: Playing to Win Means Blazing New Trails

    In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I look at why playing to win — not playing it safe — is becoming the defining strategy for AI and cloud leaders. Highlights 00:01 — Last week, we talked about Google Cloud's extraordinary Q2, with revenue up 82% to almost $25 billion, backlog up almost 400% to $514 billion. I wanted to talk today a little bit about a challenge that Google Cloud and the other hyperscalers are facing, because this extraordinary growth requires very aggressive investments in CapEx to build out data center capacity. 00:58 — Will these companies continue to have the courage to play to win, as opposed to trying to appease rattled investors? Right after Alphabet reported these numbers, Alphabet also had to say that its CapEx budget for 2026 is going to go up slightly to about $200 billion, while Q2 cash flow was negative $5.9 billion. 01:49 — But it's not a long-term trend here. The market reaction was they hammered Alphabet stock, and its market cap went down $250 billion after Google Cloud reported this. My point is, you've got to keep a clear head in these crazy sorts of times, and I think Alphabet is doing exactly that. Sundar Pichai cited immense opportunities during the Q2 earnings call and talked about the complete AI stack. 02:56 — They believe these investments they're making now are going to pay off with significantly more data center capacity next year. In the short term, Google Cloud is going to tap into some third-party data center capacity, Pichai said, as one of the ways to take care of customers. They're willing to trade that very short-term pain for enormous contracts down the line. 04:09 — It's a wild time here, but definitely, as I've said many times, this is the greatest growth market the world has ever known. These big hyperscaler companies are now faced with challenges that no company has ever had to face before. I applaud the Alphabet leadership for playing to win rather than playing not to lose. That's just not going to cut it in the Cloud Wars. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

  3. 4d ago

    Salesforce Launches MCP Servers to Turn Slack Into an AI Workspace

    In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I explain how Salesforce's latest MCP announcement advances Marc Benioff's vision for AI-first enterprise collaboration. Highlights 00:03 — Salesforce has announced the introduction of new MCP servers that connect Slack to Salesforce CRM, Tableau, Data 360, and third-party AI tools. Now, these new servers have enhanced Slackbot, which is Slack's personal AI agent, enabling it to serve as a conversational interface for tasks across the Salesforce ecosystem. 00:29 — The headline for the press release about this announcement really summarizes it very well: "Slackbot can now do anything Salesforce can — just ask." Salesforce users can now view and update Salesforce records, run automations, access custom data without leaving Slack, and just using natural language. Users can query Tableau dashboards and analytics. 00:55 — Data 360 integration now enables Slackbot to access customer data for better responses and context-aware responses. Slackbot can now orchestrate work across multiple AI agents and enterprise apps, including partners like Anthropic, Atlassian, DocuSign, and Zapier. And the whole thing can be centrally managed by admins with built-in authentication and security. 01:22 — These Salesforce-hosted MCP servers are now generally available for all Enterprise Edition organizations and above. So what's the vision here? Well, Kris Billmaier, EVP and GM of Sales Cloud, explained, "Salesforce Sales Cloud in Slack is the future of how revenue teams work," he said. 01:55 — "AI is changing what it means to sell, and putting Salesforce intelligence and data inside Slack, where sellers already live, means teams stop chasing context and start driving growth. That shift is happening now, and we're right at the center of it." Ultimately, Salesforce is now positioning Slack as the primary workspace for AI-powered collaboration. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

  4. 5d ago

    Google Cloud Q2: Revenue +82%, $24.8B, Backlog +390%, $514B

    In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I show why Google Cloud is setting the pace in the AI economy despite Microsoft's and AWS's larger scale. Highlights 00:03 — Well, we thought we had seen some big numbers in the Cloud Wars over the last few quarters, but Google Cloud for Q2 absolutely blew the numbers away. Astonishing: revenue up 82% to almost $25 billion, and its backlog up 390% to $514 billion. 01:39 — From Q1 to Q2, Google Cloud's revenue jumped $4.8 billion. That's far larger, not only than what Google Cloud has done quarter to quarter, but Microsoft and AWS. I believe, looking pretty closely over a long period of time, for any of those companies to have a $3 billion increase quarter to quarter has been remarkable. 02:16 — I've got an article offering some highlights from this, and also side-by-side-by-side comparisons of the growth that Google Cloud, Microsoft Cloud, and AWS have each posted over the past five quarters. What makes Google Cloud stand out is the arc of its acceleration. It is much, much steeper, much higher. 03:18 — Q4, Google Cloud really broke away from the pack: 48% growth in Q4, 63% growth in Q1, and here now for Q2, 82%. Just absolutely remarkable, and I think we see that among the hyperscalers, and perhaps others as well, Google Cloud is clearly the AI leader. 04:32 — While Microsoft Cloud and AWS have bigger revenue numbers, Google Cloud is the one setting the pace, winning more customers, winning new business, and setting the pace with technology, go-to-market innovation, and the confidence, in large part delivered by the remarkable security business it's built, that it can handle everything that customers need as they move into the AI economy. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

  5. 6d ago

    Microsoft AI in Education Report: Why Responsible AI Is the Next Big Challenge

    In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I look at how Microsoft is helping schools move from AI experimentation to effective deployment. Highlights 00:08 — There isn't a sector that AI hasn't impacted, and with the proliferation of these technologies, it's important to examine individual sectors and analyze the effect of AI on them, both positive and negative. 00:23 — To understand where things are working and where they aren't. And that's what Microsoft has done with its 2026 "AI in Education" report. I want to share some of the key findings from that report with you today. Ultimately, AI has become mainstream in education, with 92% of students and education leaders, and 88% of educators, having used AI for school-related purposes. 00:60 — Adoption is increasing. In fact, 58% of education leaders report that their institutions are already implementing or scaling AI initiatives. According to the report, the biggest gap identified is the need for training, with both educators and students requesting more structured support. In fact, 66% of educators want AI training on a monthly or quarterly basis. 01:15 — While 52% of students are also seeking regular AI training. The priority highlighted in the report is responsible AI use, with 41% of students and 42% of educators citing academic integrity as a leading concern. Now, in response, Microsoft has announced new AI capabilities across Microsoft 365 Education and its broad education platform. 01:40 — These include AI-assisted unit planning for teachers, student AI guidelines, learning groups, enhanced classroom experiences in the Learning Zone, Copilot Notebooks, and a Study and Learn agent in Copilot Chat. The overall message from this research is that the focus in education is shifting from access to AI to its responsible deployment, with improvements needed in training, governance, and classroom-ready tools. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

  6. Jul 21

    Google Cloud + Palantir Growth Rates Show What Enterprises Want from AI

    In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I examine why Google Cloud and Palantir have become the fastest-growing companies in enterprise AI. Highlights 00:01 — Now that we are more than halfway through the year, we've got Q2 earnings season coming up, and a couple that I'm looking for in particular are Google Cloud and Palantir because their growth rates have been so much above the norm. I think what we see in those growth rates and in the numbers behind those is a reflection of what customers really want from AI and the cloud here in the AI revolution. 00:52 — Let's look at numbers for Google Cloud, the number one company on the Cloud Wars Top 10. Palantir is number five. For Google Cloud, in the quarter ended a few months ago, March 31, its growth rate was 63%. Its revenue was $20 billion. Q4: 48%, $17.7 billion. Going back to Q3: 34%, Q2: 32%, and Q1: 28%. So we see, for the last five quarters, Google Cloud has soared over the last couple of quarters 01:57 — Now let's look at Palantir with those same five quarters, going back to Q1 of 2025, and up through Q1 of this year. So, most recently, 85% growth rate with over $1.6 billion in revenue, 70% before that, 63% before that, 48%, 39%. So in both cases, we see the company, even as its revenue base gets bigger, growing much, much faster moving forward. 03:22 — Palantir is 24 years old. This is not a startup company, although it's just sort of burst onto the scene. I wonder if, in some ways, Palantir's technology was out ahead of where the market was. But now that the AI boom has swept the world, Palantir's technologies are now suitable for  companies of any size to help take what they have and use that as a foundation to build into the future. 04:37 — Innovation in going to market, as well as in technology, means  some new approaches to things. I think particularly Google Cloud here has been an extraordinary example of this. And I refer in this article to their recent disclosure that while OpenAI and Anthropic, AWS, and Microsoft are all launching deployment units to pull off these big AI projects, Google Cloud is relying 100% on its ecosystem. 05:11 — I'll be eager to see how these companies do in Q2, and we'll follow up with those and the other Cloud Wars Top 10 companies on how they've done in calendar Q2. But I really take my hat off to Google Cloud and Palantir because, in this very intense time, with an enormous market and everybody going after it, their growth rates are soaring. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

  7. Jul 20

    Hottest Vendors: #1 Palantir, #2 Google Cloud, #3 Oracle

    In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I preview the coming wave of Q2 earnings while highlighting the extraordinary growth reshaping cloud computing. Highlights 00:03 — We're on the verge of having a lot of calendar Q2 financial results released, so just in advance of that, I wanted to offer a snapshot of where things stand now regarding the world's hottest cloud and AI vendors. Right now, we've got Palantir in the number one spot, Google Cloud number two, Oracle number three. 00:42 — I've also got a chart in there showing backlog, or RPO, which is future booked business that's fully contracted, fully committed, among the four hyperscalers that now totals over $2 trillion. But in the here and now, here's where it stands for the Cloud Wars Top 10 companies. Palantir is in the number one spot for Q1. 01:56 — We've got Microsoft with an enormous performance here: 29% growth and $54.5 billion in quarterly cloud revenue. AWS had a very strong quarter: 28% growth and $37.6 billion in revenue. Salesforce is in the number nine spot with 13% growth, while OpenAI remains an estimate because it is not yet publicly traded. 03:05 — You know, you see some of these numbers, and as I referred to a moment ago about the backlog numbers, which are truly just mind-bending, we become immune to being amazed by the size and the volume here. I do not throw around the phrase "the greatest growth market the world has ever known" lightly. 03:55 — The former applications companies are now racing to become agentic companies and data companies. Huge change and transformation within the Cloud Wars Top 10 is helping customers participate in, succeed in, and potentially thrive in the AI economy. I don't expect any massive changes in this lineup, but the growth numbers will be very interesting over the next few weeks. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

  8. Jul 17

    AI Agent & Copilot Podcast: John Siefert and Cedric Wells Discuss AI Leadership, Vibe Coding, and Governance

    In this episode of the AI Agent & Copilot Podcast, John Siefert, Founder and CEO of Cloud Wars, is joined by Cedric Wells, IT leader and former Senior Manager of Infrastructure and Operations at Gorilla Glue. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping IT leadership, software development, governance, and enterprise transformation. Wells shares why continuous learning, balancing strategic vision with execution, and maintaining strong security and data governance will define successful organizations in the AI Era. Their conversation also reflects many of the leadership themes that attendees explored at the 2026 AI Agent & Copilot Summit NA. Key Takeaways Growth mindset is becoming the most valuable IT skill. Wells believes technical expertise alone is no longer enough. The speed of AI innovation requires professionals at every level to continuously refresh their knowledge and remain adaptable. He explains that technologies evolve so rapidly that learning has become a permanent responsibility rather than a periodic exercise. As Wells notes, "Having a mindset that's really around learning as much as I can as things are changing" is essential. He also reminds listeners, "It's changing so fast," making curiosity and adaptability foundational qualities for future IT leaders. AI enhances leadership — but doesn't replace technical understanding. Wells argues that AI is helping close the gap between technical specialists and business leaders, allowing executives to understand complex technologies more quickly. However, leaders still need enough technical context to ask intelligent questions and make informed decisions. As he explains, "Being able to really as a leader leverage AI as much as possible" creates significant advantages. He also emphasizes that "bridging that gap with your leadership skills and leveraging AI on the technical side" will define successful IT leadership moving forward. Governance and security are becoming even more important. Throughout the conversation, Wells repeatedly emphasizes that AI initiatives require close collaboration between infrastructure, information security, governance, and data teams. Without proper oversight, organizations risk exposing sensitive information, creating compliance issues, or building unreliable AI systems. Wells reminds listeners that "It's very important to make sure that those two departments are aligned" and warns that "Employees are doing it whether or not you like it," making proactive governance and secure enablement far more effective than restrictive policies alone. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

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Cloud Wars analyzes the major cloud vendors from the perspective of business customers. In Cloud Wars Live, Bob Evans talks with both sides about these profoundly transformative technologies, and with monthly All-Star guests from across the business community about the trends impacting how the world lives, works, plays, and dreams. Visit https://cloudwars.com for more.

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