Google Cloud Next 2026 preview: The real story isn’t AI — it’s the control plane

Why It Matters The upcoming Google Cloud Next 2026 conference has generated significant buzz, with many expecting a slew of artificial intelligence announcements. However, a recent article on Silicon Angle suggests that the real story might not be about AI, but rather about the control plane. This shift in focus could have significant implications for the industry, as it highlights the importance of underlying infrastructure in ing cutting-edge technologies like AI. The control plane is the underlying system that manages and orchestrates the various components of a cloud infrastructure.