AI has shifted from being a workload on the cloud to a workload that reshapes cloud design, Kim says. “Enterprises are prioritizing architectures that bring compute to data, often blending public cloud, private infrastructure, and edge to reduce latency, control costs, and meet compliance requirements,” he explains. “Additionally, as data privacy concerns rise and open source drives deployment costs down, the demand for on-prem and edge AI deployments will increase.”
CIOs who treat cloud strategy as AI strategy will lead the next phase of digital transformation, Kim predicts. “The winners will be those who balance speed, sovereignty, and sustainability without losing sight of operational resilience.”
2. Industry-specific cloud platforms further their momentum
Vertical cloud platforms aren’t just generic cloud services — they’re tailored ecosystems that combine infrastructure, AI models, and data architectures specifically optimized for sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and retail, says Chandrakanth Puligundla, a software engineer and data analyst at grocery store chain Albertsons.