Amazon Web Services (AWS) is increasing its demands on teams to expedite product deliveries due to heightened competition in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. In an internal meeting ahead of the annual Reinvent conference, Chief Executive Matt Garman emphasized the importance of speed and execution for maintaining competitiveness and customer engagement. Garman stated, “Increasingly, we’re finding that when we launch innovative new things at Reinvent it’s valuable if we can actually launch them, as opposed to just pre-announce them.” He noted that customers prefer to utilize products when they are discussed, and delays can diminish excitement. These comments come as AWS encounters scrutiny regarding its AI initiatives.
Competitors like Microsoft and Google have swiftly introduced generative AI tools, while analysts suggest AWS is trailing behind. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has defended AWS, arguing that the AI sector is still emerging and that there will be several successful players in the future. Nevertheless, Garman’s communication to employees was unequivocal: execution is as crucial as innovation. He asserted, “The first and very most important thing we’ve got to do is make sure that we deliver on the roadmap that we have,” urging teams to prevent delays and meet customer expectations. Reinvent, taking place each December in Las Vegas, serves as AWS’s premier event and a platform for significant cloud and AI product launches.
Last year, the company unveiled Nova, a suite of foundation models accessible through Amazon Bedrock, allowing developers to create and scale generative AI applications. This year, Garman has indicated a shift in focus—prioritizing the delivery of functional products over generating hype. The involvement of customers will also be a key aspect of this year’s Reinvent, with Garman stressing that customer attendance is essential, stating that the event “is not interesting if customers aren’t there.” The goal is to match last year’s attendance of 60,000 in-person participants. During the meeting, Garman also introduced a new internal tool named Quick.
Currently in testing, this agentic AI is designed to perform tasks with minimal or no prompting, capable of scanning documents and websites, automating workflows, and enhancing productivity by minimizing manual inputs. Employees will soon be able to test the tool.
Following the report by Reuters, an Amazon spokesperson downplayed the notion of internal reprimands, describing the meeting as “an inspiring internal conversation where we encouraged the team to work hard to keep delivering meaningful value to customers at Reinvent, just as we do every year.” As AWS gears up for its December event, attention is focused on whether the company can effectively balance speed, reliability, and innovation, and demonstrate its ability to keep pace with competitors in the rapidly evolving cloud and AI landscape.