Artificial Intelligence

Cognizant Expands Google Cloud Partnership to Scale Enterprise AI Deployment

The IT services firm strengthens its collaboration with Google Cloud to help enterprises move AI from pilot projects to production systems

Updated

February 18, 2026 8:11 PM

Google Cloud building. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

Enterprise interest in AI has moved quickly from experimentation to execution. Many organizations have tested generative tools, but turning those tools into systems that can run inside daily operations remains a separate challenge. Cognizant, an IT services firm, is expanding its partnership with Google Cloud to help enterprises move from AI pilots to fully deployed, production-ready systems.

Cognizant and Google Cloud are deepening their collaboration around Google’s Gemini Enterprise and Google Workspace. Cognizant is deploying these tools across its own workforce first, using them to support internal productivity and collaboration. The idea is simple: test and refine the systems internally, then package similar capabilities for clients.

The focus of the partnership is what Cognizant calls “agentic AI.” In practical terms, this refers to AI systems that can plan, act and complete tasks with limited human input. Instead of generating isolated outputs, these systems are designed to fit into business workflows and carry out structured tasks.

To make that workable at scale, Cognizant is building delivery infrastructure around the technology. The company is setting up a dedicated Gemini Enterprise Center of Excellence and formalizing an Agent Development Lifecycle. This framework covers the full process, from early design and blueprinting to validation and production rollout. The aim is to give enterprises a clearer path from the AI concept to a deployed system.

Cognizant also plans to introduce a bundled productivity offering that combines Gemini Enterprise with Google Workspace. The targeted use cases are operational rather than experimental. These include collaborative content creation, supplier communications and other workflow-heavy processes that can be standardized and automated.

Beyond productivity tools, Cognizant is integrating Gemini into its broader service platforms. Through Cognizant Ignition, enabled by Gemini, the company supports early-stage discovery and prototyping while helping clients strengthen their data foundations. Its Agent Foundry platform provides pre-configured and no-code capabilities for specific use cases such as AI-powered contact centers and intelligent order management. These tools are designed to reduce the amount of custom development required for each deployment.

Scaling is another element of the strategy. Cognizant, a multi-year Google Cloud Data Partner of the Year award winner, says it will rely on a global network of Gemini-trained specialists to deliver these systems. The company is also expanding work tied to Google Distributed Cloud and showcasing capabilities through its Google Experience Zones and Gen AI Studios.

For Google Cloud, the partnership reinforces its enterprise AI ecosystem. Cloud providers can offer models and infrastructure, but enterprise adoption often depends on service partners that can integrate tools into existing systems and manage ongoing operations. By aligning closely with Cognizant, Google strengthens its ability to move Gemini from platform capability to production deployment.

The announcement does not introduce a new AI model. Instead, it reflects a shift in emphasis. The core question is no longer whether AI tools exist, but how they are implemented, governed and scaled across large organizations. Cognizant’s expanded role suggests that execution frameworks, internal deployment and structured delivery models are becoming central to how enterprises approach AI.

In that sense, the partnership is less about new technology and more about operational maturity. It highlights how AI is moving from isolated pilots to managed systems embedded in business processes — a transition that will likely define the next phase of enterprise adoption.

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Startup Profiles

How Pet Treat Brand’s Focus on Trust and Traction Captured Silicon Valley Investors

Amid AI and tech startups, Eastseabrother proved the power of demand and trust.

Updated

January 23, 2026 10:41 AM

Cats having a jolly good time with a can of tuna. PHOTO: UNSPLASH

At a Silicon Valley pitch event crowded with AI, SaaS and deep-tech startups, the company that stood out was not selling software or algorithms. It was selling pet treats.

Eastseabrother, a premium pet food brand from South Korea, ranked first at a Plug and Play–hosted investor pitch competition in Sunnyvale. The product itself is simple: single-ingredient pet treats made from wild-caught seafood sourced from Korea’s East Sea. The company follows a principle it calls “Only What the Sea Allows”, working directly with regional fishermen while avoiding overfishing. With no additives and minimal processing, what sets Eastseabrother apart is not novelty, but control—over sourcing, supply chains and consistency.

That clarity helped the company walk away with both Best Product and Best Potential. “Investors asked detailed questions about repeat purchase rates and customer feedback, not just our technology or supply chain”, said Eunyul Kim, CEO of Eastseabrother. “That told us the market is shifting—real consumer trust now carries as much weight as a compelling tech narrative”.

What truly caught investors’ attention was not an ambitious vision of the future, but concrete evidence of traction today. Eastseabrother has already secured shelf space in specialty pet stores across California, New York and North Carolina, including an exclusive partnership with EarthWise Pet, a national specialty retail chain. At a consumer showcase at San Francisco’s Ferry Building, the brand recorded the highest on-site sales among all participating companies.

At its core, the pitch was built on simplicity: one ingredient, clear sourcing and a defined customer need. In a market saturated with complex products and abstract claims, that focus and transparency stood out.

The judges’ decision also reflects a broader shift in venture capital thinking. Not every successful startup is built on complex software or high-tech innovation. In categories like pet care—where trust, quality and transparency shape buying behavior—execution and credibility can matter more than technical sophistication.

Today, Eastseabrother has extended its reach beyond the U.S., expanding into Singapore and Hong Kong, with additional plans to grow further in North America as demand for premium pet food rises. And the broader takeaway from this pitch is not that consumer brands are overtaking tech startups. It is that investors are increasingly focused on fundamentals: who is buying, why they are returning and whether the business can sustain itself beyond the pitch deck.