Microsoft Ignite 2025

We held a fireside chat with industry leaders driving real-world AI transformation. During this session, we heard how one mobile carrier reinvented customer service, a global retailer elevated health and wellness through intelligent retail, and others accelerated their journey to enterprise AI.

We hosted a dynamic panel with financial services leaders which explored how agentic AI is redefining the industry. We heard how the latest evolution in AI technology is driving excellence in customer experience, operational resilience, and risk intelligence. Attendees discovered real-world applications, lessons learned from deployments, and what’s next for financial services.

This session explored how autonomous AI agents in GitHub Copilot simplify app analysis, upgrades, and migration to Azure services. Attendees experienced the full power of the cloud with confidence – while staying in control every step of the way.

We explored how Microsoft’s latest AI-powered agentic tools automate and accelerate the migration of business-critical workloads. Attendees learned how these innovations open new services opportunities, drive customer success, and enable partners to differentiate, scale, and grow with Microsoft’s ongoing investments in cloud and AI.

From bold ideas in AI and cloud to real-world client solutions, each 45-minute breakout session turned intelligence into impact.

This session unpacked how digital sovereignty is reshaping opportunities for partners in Europe. Attendees learned how Microsoft Sovereign Cloud empowers them to address customer concerns, unlock new business growth, and deliver secure, compliant solutions tailored to evolving customer and regulatory requirements. Attendees gained actionable insights to help their organization thrive in the sovereign cloud era.

History came to life through conversational AI. During this session, viewers discovered how Microsoft technology makes heritage accessible, engaging, and trustworthy – honoring the past while inspiring a new future for digital heritage worldwide.

We explored how agentic AI transforms compliance by streamlining KYC, reducing false positives, and accelerating onboarding. Through live demos with Capgemini and Microsoft, viewers witnessed how leading banks shift from reactive to proactive crime prevention – enhancing workflows, insights, and compliance.

In just 25 minutes, viewers experienced how agentic AI is completely redefining how organizations build customer experiences.

This demo showcased how our AI governance frameworks and Microsoft’s native security tools – including Microsoft Sentinel, Defender for Cloud, and Entra ID – work together to monitor continuously, detect threats early, and ensure compliance across the AI lifecycle.

We looked back on how a global Microsoft-NVIDIA-Capgemini hackathon brought 500+ participants together to build and deploy industry-specific AI agents on NVIDIA’s platform for the Capgemini RAISE Agentic Gallery. Attendees discovered how collaboration and governance turned prototypes into enterprise-ready solutions – and what’s next for agentic AI.

Hello San Francisco – we’re arrived for Microsoft Ignite 2025!

The #CloudRealities podcast team has landed this week in San Francisco, we’re bringing you the best updates right from the heart of the event. Join us to connect AI at scale, cloud modernization, and secure innovation—empowering organizations to become AI-first.

Plus, we’ll keep you updated on all the latest news and juicy gossip.

Dave, Esmee, and Rob wrap up their Ignite 2025 series with Yina Arenas, CVP of Microsoft Foundry, to discuss why Foundry is the go-to choice for enterprises and how it champions responsible development and innovation.

TLDR:

• 00:40 – Introduction to Yina Arenas
• 01:14 – How the team is doing, keynote highlights, and insights from the Expo floor
• 02:50 – Deep dive with Yina on the evolution of Cloud Foundry
• 29:24 – Favourite IT-themed movie, human interaction, and our society
• 31:56 – Personal (and slightly juicy) reflections on the week
• 37:30 – Team reflections on Ignite 2025, including an executive summary per guest and appreciation for Dennis Hansen
• 50:54 – The team’s favorite IT-themed movies
• 59:30 – Personal favorite restaurant

Guest:

• Yina Arenas

Hello San Francisco – we’re arrived for Microsoft Ignite 2025!

The #CloudRealities podcast team has landed this week in San Francisco, we’re bringing you the best updates right from the heart of the event. Join us to connect AI at scale, cloud modernization, and secure innovation—empowering organizations to become AI-first.

Plus, we’ll keep you updated on all the latest news and juicy gossip.

Dave, Esmee, and Rob continue their conversation with Alistair Speirs, GM of Global Infrastructure for Microsoft’s Azure Business Group, exploring how to build and scale the AI and Cloud datacenters of the future worldwide—while also addressing sovereignty requirements.

TLDR:

• 00:40 – Introduction to Alistair Speirs
• 04:42 – Keynote highlights and Expo floor insights
• 06:50 – Deep dive conversation with Alistair
• 36:36 – Favorite IT-themed movie, using your brain as compute storage, and why people still matter

Guest:

• Alistair Speirs

Hello San Francisco – we’re arrived for Microsoft Ignite 2025!

The #CloudRealities podcast team has landed this week in San Francisco, we’re bringing you the best updates right from the heart of the event. Join us to connect AI at scale, cloud modernization, and secure innovation—empowering organizations to become AI-first.

Plus, we’ll keep you updated on all the latest news and juicy gossip.

Dave, Esmee and Rob, continue their discussion with John Link, Partner Product Manager at Microsoft, exploring Frontier organizations and how AI and quantum are reshaping R&D, all within the context of Microsoft Discovery.

TLDR:

• 00:58 – Introduction to John Link (and some fun food spellings)
• 03:55 – Keynote highlights and Expo floor insights
• 05:53 – Deep dive conversation with John
• 24:14 – Favorite IT-themed movie, thoughts on brain implants, and the simulation theory

Guest:

• John Link

Hello San Francisco – we’re arrived for Microsoft Ignite 2025!

The #CloudRealities podcast team has landed this week in San Francisco, we’re bringing you the best updates right from the heart of the event. Join us to connect AI at scale, cloud modernization, and secure innovation—empowering organizations to become AI-first.

Plus, we’ll keep you updated on all the latest news and juicy gossip.

Dave and Esmee continue their conversation with Rob Lefferts, CVP Threat Protection about the key security announcements and explore how we leverage agents to protect, defend, and respond at AI speed.

TLDR:

• 00:50 – Introduction to Rob Lefferts
• 01:40 – Keynote highlights and insights from the Expo floor
• 03:19 – In-depth conversation with Rob on why security is critical in the era of AI
• 22:53 – Favorite IT-themed movie linked to the Asimov’s principles and the Louvre password

Guest:

• Rob Lefferts

Hello San Francisco – we’re arrived for Microsoft Ignite 2025!

The #CloudRealities podcast team has landed this week in San Francisco, we’re bringing you the best updates right from the heart of the event. Join us to connect AI at scale, cloud modernization, and secure innovation—empowering organizations to become AI-first. Plus, we’ll keep you updated on all the latest news and juicy gossip.

Dave, Esmee, and Rob continue their conversation with Jonathan Hunt, CVP of Business Solutions at Microsoft, diving into the differences between AI-driven business solutions and traditional business applications, and exploring how customers can learn where—and how—to get started with AI.

TLDR:

• 00:35 – Introduction and conversation with Jonathan Hunt, plus updates from the event floor
• 22:15 – Favorite IT-themed movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger

Guest:

• Jonathan Hunt

Hello San Francisco – we’re arrived for Microsoft Ignite 2025!

The #CloudRealities podcast team has landed this week in San Francisco, we’re bringing you the best updates right from the heart of the event. Join us to connect AI at scale, cloud modernization, and secure innovation—empowering organizations to become AI-first.

Plus, we’ll keep you updated on all the latest news and juicy gossip.

Dave, Esmee and Rob kick off with Rob Cromwell, CVP of Engineering and explore the exciting evolution of Copilot and share insights on what’s coming next.

TLDR:

• 00:50 – Back in San Francisco
• 02:45 – Highlights from the first keynote
• 11:08 – Intro and chat with Rob Cromwell
• 30:40 – Tackling tech and authentication challenges
• 32:28 – Favorite IT-related film and a glimpse into the near future

Guest:

• Rob Cromwell