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Tools & Platforms
A Catalyst for AI-Driven Multicloud Growth?

Rackspace Technology’s recent CEO transition, effective September 3, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in its evolution as a leader in AI-driven multicloud services. Gajen Kandiah, the newly appointed CEO, brings a wealth of experience from Hitachi Digital, Hitachi Vantara, and Cognizant, where he spearheaded initiatives in AI, infrastructure, and cloud innovation. His appointment follows Amar Maletira’s transition to Vice Chairman of the Board, ensuring strategic continuity while injecting fresh momentum into Rackspace’s AI-first vision [1].
Strategic Alignment: Kandiah’s Vision and Rackspace’s AI-First Roadmap
Kandiah’s priorities—accelerating cloud management innovation, strengthening partnerships with major cloud providers, and scaling private AI solutions—align seamlessly with Rackspace’s 2025 strategic focus. The company’s recent launch of an AI-enabled Cloud Management Platform underscores this alignment, offering enterprises tools to optimize hybrid and multicloud environments while integrating AI for governance and automation [3]. This platform, coupled with Kandiah’s emphasis on governed multicloud operations for AI and data workloads, positions Rackspace to capitalize on the 250% surge in AI investment observed in 2025 [1].
The CEO’s background in AI and cloud services also resonates with Rackspace’s partnerships. For instance, its collaboration with AWS to deliver full-stack cloud and AI services, including generative AI accelerators, reflects a strategic push to meet the growing demand for scalable, secure AI solutions [4]. Similarly, the partnership with Sema4.ai to deploy enterprise-ready AI agents bridges the gap between experimentation and enterprise adoption, a critical step in Rackspace’s mission to democratize AI [2].
Leadership Continuity and Market Positioning
Maletira’s transition to the board ensures institutional knowledge remains embedded in Rackspace’s strategy, mitigating risks associated with abrupt leadership shifts. This continuity is vital in a sector where 90% of IT leaders are rewriting cloud strategies to integrate AI [4]. Rackspace’s 2025 State of Cloud Report highlights hybrid cloud as a cornerstone for flexibility and resilience, a trend Kandiah’s leadership is poised to amplify. By prioritizing “governed multicloud operations,” Rackspace addresses a key pain point: 40% of enterprises cite talent shortages and integration complexities as barriers to cloud and AI adoption [4].
Kandiah’s compensation package—$1 million salary, 150% bonus target, and 10 million equity awards—signals investor confidence in his ability to drive execution. His focus on “consistent operational execution” [1] aligns with Rackspace’s need to balance innovation with profitability, a challenge highlighted in industry analyst reports noting the divide between “AI Leaders” (who outperform peers in metrics like customer experience and productivity) and laggards [1].
Industry Trends and Rackspace’s Competitive Edge
The cloud AI sector is witnessing a paradigm shift. Rackspace’s 2025 AI Research Report reveals that AI Leaders are 3x more likely to achieve ROI on AI investments compared to non-leaders, emphasizing the urgency for enterprises to adopt hybrid cloud and AI integration [1]. Kandiah’s leadership comes at a time when 84% of IT leaders are actively integrating AI into cloud strategies, with 49% prioritizing efficiency gains and 45% leveraging AI for data insights [4].
Rackspace’s recent partnerships exemplify its competitive positioning. The AWS collaboration, which includes the Rackspace Rapid Migration Offer and AWS-validated generative AI solutions, addresses the need for accelerated digital transformation. Meanwhile, the Sema4.ai partnership introduces AI agents that automate high-value tasks, reducing implementation time and costs [2]. These moves align with Kandiah’s strategic priorities and reinforce Rackspace’s role as a bridge between cloud providers and enterprises.
Risks and Opportunities
Despite its strengths, Rackspace faces challenges. Talent shortages and budget constraints remain significant hurdles, with 37% of enterprises citing insufficient funds for cloud and AI initiatives [4]. However, Kandiah’s emphasis on upskilling teams and leveraging partnerships—such as the AWS Generative AI Partner Innovation Alliance—positions Rackspace to mitigate these risks. Additionally, the energy sector’s shift toward private clouds for security and compliance [2] highlights a niche where Rackspace’s hybrid cloud expertise can thrive.
Conclusion: A Catalyst for Growth?
Rackspace Technology’s CEO transition under Kandiah represents more than a leadership change—it is a strategic recalibration to meet the demands of an AI-driven multicloud era. By aligning Kandiah’s expertise with Rackspace’s AI-first roadmap, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the $250 billion global AI market projected by 2026. For investors, the key question is whether this leadership shift will translate into sustained innovation and market share gains. Given Rackspace’s recent partnerships, platform launches, and alignment with industry trends, the answer appears increasingly affirmative.
Source:
[1] 2025 AI Research Report Revealed [https://www.rackspace.com/newsroom/rackspace-reveals-2025-ai-report]
[2] Rackspace Technology and Sema4.ai Launch Industry’s First Scalable Enterprise AI Agent Solution [https://ir.rackspace.com/news-releases/news-release-details/rackspace-technology-and-sema4ai-launch-industrys-first-scalable]
[3] Rackspace Technology Launches Cloud Management Platform [https://www.rackspace.com/newsroom/rackspace-technology-launches-cloud-management-platform]
[4] New Research by Rackspace Technology Reveals Hybrid Cloud and AI Integration as Key Drivers for IT Innovation in 2025 [https://www.rackspace.com/newsroom/new-research-rackspace-technology-2025-state-cloud-report]
Tools & Platforms
Defense at scale: How agentic AI secures without extra headcount

This underscores a shift in strategy from reactive to proactive defense. Rather than waiting for attacks to occur and then scrambling to respond, Agentic AI can potentially identify vulnerabilities, predict attack patterns and implement countermeasures before threats can be exploited.
The speed advantage becomes increasingly important in cases like distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, an attempt to disrupt normal traffic of a server, service or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of Internet traffic. When nation-state actors launch DDoS attacks to bring down networks, an agentic AI deployed at the network perimeter can potentially identify attack patterns, analyze traffic anomalies and modify firewall rules autonomously, thereby eliminating the response delays that typically allow attacks to succeed.
Strategic implementation: Building your agent defense network
Successfully deploying Agentic AI moves beyond a traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead, organizations should build teams of specialized agents, each designed with its own function that work within coordinated defense networks. This could be like the following:
Tools & Platforms
AI Academy Launches Region’s First Executive Program for Chief AI Officer

AI Academy, a regional hub for executive education and leadership in AI, has opened early applications for its Executive Program for Chief AI Officer (CAIO)
The AI Academy, a regional hub for executive education and leadership in artificial intelligence, has opened early applications for its Executive Program for Chief AI Officer (CAIO). The AI Academy was first unveiled at the prestigious Machines Can See 2025 summit in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in the UAE. The new first-of-its-kind Executive program in the region will equip senior executives and decision-makers with the vision and expertise to drive the next wave of AI transformation. The latest research shows 69% of organizations in the Middle East plan to increase investment in AI, highlighting the urgent need for skilled leadership.
The executive program is launched under the strategic collaboration between the Abu Dhabi School of Management (ADSM) and Polynome AI Academy, reinforcing a regional commitment to shaping future-ready leadership as a global hub for AI adoption and regulation.
Also Read: AiThority Interview with Tim Morrs, CEO at SpeakUp
The AI Academy will integrate NVIDIA’s expertise and technologies into select programs—reinforcing its mission to accelerate AI readiness and real-world deployment across the region.
The intensive two-week program is scheduled to begin on 16 November 2025 and includes 10 advanced modules covering AI systems architecture, enterprise deployment, governance frameworks, ethics, and public policy. With a strong emphasis on real-world application, the program prepares executives to lead cross-functional AI strategies and unlock innovation agendas across the MENA region. Participants will also have an opportunity to join an optional five-day international module in Europe or the United States as an extension of the main program, expanding their exposure to leading global innovation ecosystems.
Polynome Group ensures participants gain exclusive access to enterprise-grade AI infrastructure, global best practices, and hands-on deployment insights. This uniquely positions The AI Academy’s Executive Program at the intersection of education and execution. With Chief AI Officers already appointed across government entities and corporates in the region, the program is a catalyst for national AI strategies and government visions which seek to position the Middle East at the forefront of global AI and digital transformation.
“In today’s fast-changing landscape, visionary and strategic leadership is critical to unlocking the full potential of AI in a responsible way that meets the needs of businesses and society alike,” said Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at ADSM. “This program equips leaders with the strategic foresight, ethical foundation, and practical skills required to leverage the exciting opportunities AI creates, while strengthening the Middle East’s role as a global hub for technological excellence.”
“What makes this program unique is that it was designed by leaders who have implemented AI at scale,” added Alexander Khanin, Founder of Polynome Group. “Participants will leave with execution-ready strategies, direct access to enterprise tools, and membership in a powerful peer network of global AI leaders.”
From Global Expertise and Industry Depth To Local Context
The program’s instructors unite world-class expertise from academia, government, and industry. Professors and researchers from leading institutions such as Oxford University, ETH Zurich, Khalifa University and Carnegie Mellon University contribute deep academic insight. Alongside them, Chief AI Officers, Heads of Technology, Vice Presidents and Executive Directors from top AI organizations, including NVIDIA, the UAE Cybersecurity Council, X, G42, NASA JPL, Mubadala, AMD, e&, HCLTech and others, bring practical leadership and industry perspective. Together, this distinguished panel highlights the program’s global influence on AI strategy and governance.
Exclusive Access to Global Network
Graduates will join an exclusive global alumni circle of Chief AI Officers and senior leaders, gaining lifelong access to a peer network shaping the next decade of AI transformation across industries and geographies.
Tools & Platforms
Tencent Announces Global Rollout of Scenario-Based AI Capabilities to Accelerate Industrial Efficiency

Tencent Announces Global Rollout of Scenario-Based, AI Capabilities to Accelerate Industrial Efficiency
Launch of AI Agent Development Platform 3.0, available internationally via Tencent Cloud, at the 2025 Global Digital Ecosystem Summit
Tencent Cloud’s overseas client base doubled since last year; achieved high double-digit year-over-year growth over the past three years
Dowson Tong, Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent and CEO of the Cloud and Smart Industries Group, delivering a keynote speech at the 2025 Global Digital Ecosystem Summit
Tencent today announced the global roll-out of new scenario-based AI capabilities, empowering enterprises across diverse industries to accelerate industry efficiency and advance international growth. Announced at the 2025 Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Summit, held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center from 16 to 17 September, it comprises a suite of intelligent agent applications, “SaaS + AI” solutions and large model technological upgrades.
“Truly usable and practical AI applications drive industrial efficiency, while internationalization charts new growth possibilities,” said Dowson Tong, Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent and CEO of the Cloud and Smart Industries Group. “Our newly launched and upgraded solutions will support enterprises in their intelligence and internationalization journey as they build scalable and sustainable growth.”
Accelerating Implementation of Intelligent Solutions
The Tencent Cloud Intelligent Agent Strategy Panorama highlighted the global launch of Agent Development Platform 3.0 (ADP), which enables enterprises to generate and integrate intelligent, autonomous AI agents into their workflows, for scenarios such as customer service, marketing, inventory management, research, and more. Tencent is continuously iterating on various intelligent agent development frameworks like LLM+RAG, Workflow, and Multi-Agent, to help enterprises efficiently build stable, secure, and business-aligned agents using proprietary data. In addition, AI Infra’s “Agent Runtime” was also launched to provide a robust infrastructure foundation for building, deploying, and operating AI agents.
The upgraded SaaS+AI toolkit enhances office collaboration, including AI Minutes in Tencent Meetings, which has seen a year-on-year growth rate of 150% over the past year. It also supports knowledge management, such as Tencent LearnShare, currently used by over 300,000 enterprises enjoying 92% response accuracy. CodeBuddy, an AI-powered AI coding tool for developers, reduces coding time by 40% and increases R&D efficiency by 16%.
New models powered by Hunyuan, Tencent’s proprietary large language model, were announced, including Hunyuan 3D 3.0, Hunyuan 3D AI and Hunyuan 3D Studio, imbued with cutting-edge 3D generation capabilities for creators and developers in media and gaming industries, and more. Hunyuan 3D series models have been downloaded over 2.6 million times on Hugging Face, making them the most popular open-source 3D models globally.
Over the past year, Tencent’s Hunyuan large model has released more than 30 new models and fully embraced open-source development. It has gradually open-sourced models such as the hybrid inference model Hunyuan-A13B and a translation model supporting over 30 languages, along with comprehensive multimodal generation capabilities and tools for image, video and 3D content.
Fully Embrace Internationalization
At the summit, Tencent Cloud highlighted its milestones in global expansion, noting that its overseas client base has doubled since last year. Over the last three years, Tencent Cloud International has achieved high double-digit year-over-year growth globally, across Asia markets, namely Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Japan, and more.
Today, more than 90% of leading Chinese internet companies, and 95% of leading Chinese gaming companies are also using Tencent Cloud to support their global expansion initiatives.
During the Tencent Cloud International Summit held in the afternoon, Tencent’s global partners including Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions, DANA, e& UAE, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Fusion Bank, GoTo Group, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), Miniclip, MUFG Bank (China), Prosus, True IDC, and more, discussed the need for enterprises to adopt advanced cloud and AI solutions to power their next stage of growth and internationalization ambitions.
Poshu Yeung, Senior Vice President, Tencent Cloud International said, “Tencent Cloud brings to overseas enterprises our deep expertise and experience in integrating AI across our ecosystem. With the launch of new solutions such as Tencent Cloud Agent Development Platform, we hope to expand our reach globally, and serve wider industries and enterprise use-cases.”
The summit also saw Tencent Cloud International signing partnership agreements with global enterprises, from Asia Pacific companies including Datacom, IOH, Gardi Management, GoTo Group, MahakaX, MUFG Bank (China), RYDE Technologies, StoneLink, True IDC, 99 Group; to Middle Eastern companies including Coop Bank Oromia and Nativex; European companies including eMAG; and North American company InCloud.
Tencent will upgrade its Tencent Cloud internationalization strategy across three areas — infrastructure, technology products, and service capabilities — to help more enterprises across different industries to transform digitally. Today Tencent Cloud products like the Superapp-as-a-Service solution and PalmAI have been widely embraced by overseas enterprises from Asia Pacific, the Middle East and The Americas.
Tencent Cloud has introduced international versions of products such as Tencent Cloud Agent Development Platform (TCADP), CodeBuddy and Cloud Mall. These globalized solutions are designed to better accommodate local requirements and provide reliable support for high-concurrency enterprises worldwide. For instance, its EdgeOne security and acceleration platform recently integrated large language models with the Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, resulting in the launch of EdgeOne Pages. This development significantly enhanced developer efficiency by reducing website development and deployment time from one day to merely one minute. Within three months, the platform garnered over 100,000 global users.
Tencent Cloud operates 55 data centres across 21 markets and regions, and plans to invest USD150 million in the future to build its first Middle East data center in Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, it will build a third data center in Osaka, Japan, and establish a new Osaka office. Today, Tencent Cloud has deployed 9 global technical support centers in Jakarta, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, Palo Alto, and Frankfurt.
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