Episode 1
Rewiring the Cloud
Nutanix & Intel on the Future of GenAI
with MiCHAL LesicZka
What does it take to move millions of workloads to the cloud? A village or at least Intel and Nutanix.
Host Akanksha Bilani and Michal Lesiczka, VP of Business Development at Nutanix, dig into the real stories behind cloud migrations, GenAI at scale, and even the “unhinged” ways they’ve used AI.
Cloud migrations may sound straightforward, but with more than 85 million virtual machines still running on-premises and most migration projects failing to finish on time, the reality is far more complex. That’s where the power of the ecosystem comes in.
Michal shares customer success stories, breaks down why migrations are harder than they look, and shows how Nutanix plays the role of “dot connector”, uniting hyperscalers, ISVs, and partners to create seamless, end-to-end solutions. Along the way, Akanksha and Michal reveal how GenAI is reshaping work in surprising ways, from rewriting emails and summarizing meetings to restoring vintage family photos and creating superhero avatars for their teams.
Finally, they look ahead at the bold predictions shaping the next decade of cloud and AI and why jobs may not disappear, but transform into entirely new forms.
Whether you’re a business leader, technologist, or simply curious about where AI and cloud are headed, this conversation is packed with insights, stories, and a few laughs along the way.
REWIRED Ep 1 Podcast Transcript
Akanksha Bilani (Host):
Hello and welcome to REWIRED, the podcast that shares the coolest stories of innovation and behind-the-scenes breakthroughs from Intel and AWS’s partnership through our partners. I’m your host, Akanksha Bilani. I run the global team for AWS at Intel. So buckle up—the future of cloud and Gen AI starts here.
Today, I have the privilege of speaking with Michal Lesiczka, Vice President of Business Development for Cloud and Databases at Nutanix. Michal, thank you so much for being here.
Michal Lesiczka:
Thanks for having me. It’s great to be here and to chat with you, Akanksha.
Akanksha:
It’s been a fast and furious pace between Intel and Nutanix, and a lot of fun. There’s so much potential. On that note, Michal, tell us a little bit about Nutanix, your services, and how you’re supporting customers on their cloud and Gen AI journeys.
Michal:
Sure. We focus on providing a single platform to run apps, data, and AI workloads across hybrid cloud. Whether you deploy on-premises or on AWS, you get a consistent platform.
At Nutanix, I run the business development team for cloud and databases. My role is about connecting the dots across the ecosystem—hyperscalers, channel partners, ISVs, Intel, and Nutanix. My job is to make sure one plus one plus one doesn’t equal four, but ten.
Akanksha:
I love that. We’ll start calling you the “Dot Connector.” Your partnerships help us deliver cutting-edge technology and meaningful experiences for customers.
Tell us a couple of projects you’re most proud of—success stories around cloud and Gen AI.
Michal:
Here’s a specific example. Imagine a customer wanting to move from an on-premises data center to the cloud. They need flexibility—servers, powered by Intel, and AWS as the fleet of cars they can rent. Nutanix provides the operating system so every “car” feels familiar to drive.
It sounds simple, but it’s complicated: balancing CapEx and OpEx, optimizing resources, choosing the right platform. What excites me is seeing multiple companies—Intel, AWS, Nutanix—come together to create a seamless migration story for the customer.
Akanksha:
Absolutely—it does take a village. Choosing the right partners and proven platforms makes a massive difference. Nutanix helps bring the ecosystem together.
Let’s switch gears. Confessional time: what’s the most unhinged way you’ve used Gen AI—at work or personally?
Michal:
Sometimes when I’m in a bad mood and about to write an email, I wonder if it sounds too harsh. I’ll ask Gen AI to make me sound nicer. “Hey, make Michal look nice in this response.”
Akanksha:
I love that. Now let’s look ahead. What’s your boldest prediction about the future of our industry?
Michal:
It reminds me of the early days of cloud. People predicted all jobs would disappear—no DBAs, no admins. We even said it on stage once, and a SQL Server audience nearly threw tomatoes at us.
With AI, I see a similar moment. Traditional roles will change, just like infrastructure jobs did with cloud. I think AI will reshape jobs on a global scale, not just technical ones. Some may even “clone” our work so we can do more with customers.
Most foundation models will always be built in the cloud—there’s too much compute required. But hybrid cloud will matter: training in public cloud, then customizing and deploying models at the edge with private data. That’s where the real magic happens.
Akanksha:
Exactly. Gen AI will free us to focus on what we love, while handling repetitive tasks. It’s already making businesses more efficient and relevant, and the wave of startups building on it is exciting.
Well, that wraps up today’s episode of REWIRED, celebrating innovation at the bleeding edge, brought to you by Intel, AWS, and our partner today, Nutanix. Michal, thank you for joining us.
Michal:
Thank you for having me. I had a great time and look forward to continuing our partnership.
Akanksha:
And for those attending AWS re:Invent, you’ll see Intel, AWS, and Nutanix’s partnership in action. Thanks, Michal, and thank you to our audience. See you in the next episode!
