The Next Reign of Cloud Kings Will Not Rule with "Iron" Fists

At the dawn of the cloud computing revolution, the winners were determined in their ability to rule with an "iron" fist (the hardware) but over the next ten years, we will see that having an iron-fist basis for rule is far easier than ruling with nuanced, multi-layered intelligence–and it takes a special kind of leader to do that. It takes a leader with boots on the ground for data collection, one who can deploy innumerable ears around every corner, every-watching eyes that are tuned to the whole of citizenry, listening without discretion, silently but busily meshing all of that information into a consciousness of sorts–a collective knowledge base that can be combed, smoothed, and rolled out to appease different divisions in that land. While indeed, this is a bit of dramatization for effect, this is exactly the kind of game of thrones that is happening just now among the giants of cloud. The iron throne is less a symbol than it used to be, the new seat of power is softer, changes position with the times, but always offers a 360 degree view. In short, winter is coming for some of the most seasoned of the old guard.