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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When farm challenges grow, smart tools need to grow with them.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:32 PM
A drone spraying water over an agricultural field. PHOTO: FREEPIK
Farms today are under pressure. Fields are getting bigger, workers are harder to find and many jobs still rely on long hours of manual labor. XAG’s new P150 Max agricultural drone is designed for exactly this reality. Instead of replacing farmers, it takes over the heavy, repetitive fieldwork that slows them down, making farm operations more efficient and more precise.
The P150 Max is built around one simple idea: a single machine that can handle multiple farming tasks. Most farm drones focus only on spraying or mapping, but this one is fully modular. With a quick switch of attachments, it can spray crops, spread seeds or fertilizer, map fields or transport supplies. This flexibility helps farmers keep up with changing tasks throughout the day without needing different machines, improving both productivity and cost-efficiency.
A key challenge in agriculture is that fields are rarely smooth or predictable. Tractors can get stuck, smaller drones can’t carry much and some areas—like orchards or hilly plots—are simply hard to reach. The P150 Max fills that gap with an 80-kilogram payload and fast flight speed, letting it cover more ground per trip. Fewer takeoffs mean less downtime and more work completed before weather or daylight cuts operations short.
When it’s time to spray, the drone uses a smart spraying system that allows farmers to adjust droplet size based on the crop’s needs. This matters because precise spraying reduces waste and improves targeting. With an output of up to 46 liters per minute, the drone can serve both large open fields and dense orchards where consistent coverage is traditionally difficult.
The spreading system applies the same logic. Instead of dropping seeds or fertilizer unevenly, the vertical mechanism spreads material smoothly and resists wind drift. This ensures uniform application across irregular or hard-to-reach land—an ongoing challenge for modern farms aiming for higher yield and better resource use.
Another everyday issue for farmers is understanding and surveying the land before working on it. The P150 Max helps here with a built-in mapping tool that covers up to 20 hectares per flight and instantly converts the images into detailed maps. With AI detecting obstacles like trees or irrigation lines, the drone can plan safe and efficient autonomous routes, reducing manual planning time.
Beyond spraying and spreading, the drone can transport tools, produce and farm supplies using a sling attachment. This is particularly helpful after heavy rain, when vehicles cannot easily move across muddy or flooded fields.
Under all these functions is XAG’s upgraded flight control system, which provides centimeter-level accuracy even when network signals are weak. Integrated sensors—including 4D radar and a wide-angle camera—help the drone recognize hazards such as poles and wires. Farmers can manage all operations through the XAG One app or a handheld controller, both of which automatically generate the best route based on field shape and terrain.
Since long field days require long operating hours, the fast-charging battery system can recharge in about seven minutes using a dedicated kit. This supports continuous drone use throughout the day with minimal interruptions.
After years of testing, the XAG P150 Max is essentially an effort to make practical, scalable farm automation more accessible. By combining spraying, spreading, mapping and transport into one heavy-duty platform, it offers a way to ease labor shortages while keeping operations efficient and sustainable. Instead of focusing on one task, the drone aims to take over the time-consuming physical work so farmers can focus on decisions, planning and crop management.