Transitioning from Cloud-Based Applications to an Autonomous AI Cloud

For the past twenty years, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been at the forefront of cloud computing. However, during his address at the re:Invent 2025 conference, CEO Matt Garman emphasized a shift in focus from traditional cloud infrastructure to managing a cloud populated by autonomous artificial intelligence agents. This perspective signals a significant evolution in how enterprise solutions are conceived and implemented.

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Garman indicated that “80% to 90% of enterprise AI value will derive from agents,” suggesting a paradigm shift in IT architecture. This shift will necessitate retraining developers to focus on orchestrating complex behaviors rather than adhering to traditional software development practices. AWS aims to lay the groundwork for a sophisticated “digital organism”—an interlinked network comprising billions of agents capable of reasoning and collaborating effectively across workflows that currently rely heavily on human intervention.

As cloud computing transitions into this autonomous frontier, Garman asserted that viable cloud platforms will be evaluated not by the number of applications they can accommodate but by the capacity to support a scalable network of efficient, intelligent agents. This message resonated with the audience at the annual Las Vegas conference, which attracts around 70,000 attendees.

The future architecture being envisioned by AWS includes new chip technologies like Trainium3 and Trainium4, designed to facilitate an inference-rich ecosystem. The introduction of Ultra Servers aims to serve as the backbone of expansive AI operations. Moreover, AWS is reconsidering its longstanding relationship with NVIDIA to position its developments within synergistic collaborations, focusing more on system efficiency than just computational power.

AWS is also diversifying with its Nova line, designed to bolster the capabilities of its agents through differentiated roles based on functionality. The latest Nova Omni version empowers agents to perceive, interpret, and create, effectively paving the way for an interconnected cloud of agents. Conversely, with Nova Forge, AWS aspires to democratize access to advanced frontier models, potentially transforming them into customizable, industrial-grade tools for enterprises.

In this ambitious landscape, Bedrock Agents stand as a critical component of AWS’s strategy. The company recognizes the ease of agent creation but emphasizes the importance of safe and reliable operation within organizational boundaries. The new policy engine designed to translate natural-language rules into executable governance structures underscores an understanding that future success will hinge on effective management of numerous agents operating in a controlled environment.

Strategizing for AI Platform Market Share

AWS’s roadmap, featuring the AgentCore framework, is strategically crafted to counter competitor initiatives that prioritize integration, such as Microsoft’s Agent 365 and Entra Agent ID. This new focus aims to present autonomous agents as extensions of existing user ecosystems, appealing to CIOs who seek streamlined productivity within established security frameworks. Meanwhile, Google Cloud promotes an open ecosystem with tools like Vertex AI, catering to organizations prioritizing advanced research and development capabilities.

AWS is selectively developing agents in areas where it holds native authority, such as developer workflows and customer service frameworks. The recent updates to Amazon Connect illustrate how agents can revolutionize customer interactions, while AWS Transform aims to bring automation closer to the longstanding goal of modernizing legacy systems. These initiatives support a vision where platform capabilities are intrinsically agent-focused.

Commitment to an Agent-Centric Future

AWS is embarking on a significant cultural transition by standardizing the internal development environment with Kiro, aimed at reshaping its developers’ approach towards behaviors and agent orchestration. This internal shift is a rare yet necessary evolution for a company of AWS’s magnitude, reflecting a deep commitment to an agentic operational model.

Garman’s keynote address represents more than a mere product cycle; it conveys AWS’s underlying belief that enterprise technology’s future lies in orchestrating and governing fleets of digital workers rather than merely producing software applications. As other vendors adopt the language of agents, AWS distinguishes itself by reengineering its technology stack and governance structures to support a world dominated by autonomous agents. In this forthcoming era, human intent will manifest through agents, while AWS positions itself to redefine the architecture of the post-application landscape.