8 Ways SUSE is Building the Open Infrastructure Layer for the AI Era

At KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026, Pete Smails, SVP and general manager for cloud-native at SUSE, shared how the company has evolved from a traditional open-source operating system provider into a unified open infrastructure platform for modern workloads. SUSE now stands at the intersection of artificial intelligence, containers, and virtual machines, offering enterprises a single, open, enterprise-ready foundation to power their digital transformation. In this article, we break down eight key strategies SUSE is using to position itself as the infrastructure layer for the AI era.

1. From Open Source OS to Open Infrastructure Platform

SUSE is no longer just a Linux company. Its mission today is to deliver an open infrastructure platform that can handle the most demanding modern workloads. The operating system remains at the foundation, but above it SUSE has built a world-class build system that is both secure and robust. This transition means enterprises can rely on SUSE not only for their operating system needs but also for container orchestration, virtualization, and AI services—all integrated under one roof. The shift reflects a broader industry move toward unified infrastructure layers that can simplify operations and accelerate innovation.

2. The World-Class Build System: More Than Plumbing

Smails emphasized that SUSE's build system, which some might dismiss as “boring plumbing,” is actually surprisingly relevant in today's continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) landscape. This secure and robust build pipeline ensures that every component—from the kernel to container images—meets enterprise-grade standards. For organizations adopting DevSecOps, this means built-in supply chain security, automated updates, and faster release cycles. It's a foundational piece that enables SUSE to deliver consistent, reliable infrastructure across on-premises, cloud, and edge environments, all while maintaining open-source flexibility.

3. SUSE Rancher Prime: Container Management and Kubernetes Orchestration

At the orchestration layer, SUSE Rancher Prime is the company's flagship container management and Kubernetes solution. It allows teams to build, deploy, and manage cloud-native applications consistently across any environment—whether on-premises, in public clouds, or at the edge. Rancher Prime simplifies multi-cluster management, offers integrated security policies, and provides a unified dashboard for operators. By combining the power of Kubernetes with enterprise support, SUSE ensures that developers can focus on innovation while operations teams maintain control and compliance.

4. Unifying AI, Containers, and VMs: The Technology Triumvirate

Smails described SUSE's strategy as “unification without assimilation.” Rather than forcing VMs and containers into the same paradigm, SUSE provides a platform where both can coexist seamlessly. This is critical as enterprises adopt AI workloads that often require both traditional virtualized environments and modern container orchestration. SUSE Virtualization offers a stable foundation for legacy applications, while Rancher Prime handles cloud-native deployments. Together, they enable a smooth migration path and allow organizations to manage all workloads from a single pane of glass, unlocking the full potential of AI without disrupting existing operations.

5. Modernizing Legacy with SUSE Virtualization

SUSE Virtualization is not just a hypervisor—it's a key component for modernizing legacy infrastructure. By unifying VM and container management, SUSE allows enterprises to gradually migrate monolithic applications to more agile, containerized architectures. This approach reduces risk and operational complexity. IT teams can start by virtualizing existing workloads and then incrementally adopt Kubernetes as they gain confidence. The tight integration with Rancher Prime means that organizations can manage both VMs and containers under a common governance and security framework, accelerating their journey toward a modern, AI-ready infrastructure.

6. Open Ecosystem for AI Agents

Recent enhancements to SUSE Rancher Prime include an open ecosystem for AI agents. This feature provides enterprises with new automated operational tools that can proactively monitor and manage deployments. For example, AI agents can detect vulnerabilities, suggest clean versions of applications, and even perform automated remediation tasks. By keeping the ecosystem open, SUSE encourages community contributions and avoids vendor lock-in. This approach aligns with the company's commitment to open standards and gives customers the flexibility to integrate their own AI models or third-party AI services into the infrastructure management layer.

7. Meet “Liz”: The Context-Aware AI Agent

At KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026, SUSE introduced Liz—a giant fluffy green lizard that also serves as a context-aware AI agent integrated into Rancher Prime. Beyond being a fun mascot for selfies, Liz acts as a virtual team member. It scans the deployment environment, identifies security issues like CVEs, and proactively offers solutions. For instance, Liz might alert a software engineer about a vulnerable container image and ask if it should look for a clean version. This AI agent demonstrates how SUSE is embedding intelligence directly into the infrastructure layer, making operations more intuitive and efficient.

8. Embracing Multi-Cloud, Multi-Data Center Realities

The modern enterprise operates across multiple data centers and clouds. SUSE's platform is designed to embrace this complexity by unifying management across diverse environments. Smails emphasized that the goal is not assimilation but unification—allowing teams to deploy and manage workloads wherever they make the most sense. Whether running AI training on GPU clusters in the cloud, serving applications from on-premises, or managing edge devices, SUSE provides a consistent operational model. This flexibility helps organizations avoid lock-in, optimize costs, and accelerate time-to-market for AI-powered applications.

As the AI era accelerates, SUSE is positioning itself as the open infrastructure layer that can unify containers, VMs, and AI services. From its robust build system to its context-aware AI agent Liz, the company is delivering tools that simplify operations while embracing open standards. For enterprises looking to modernize without sacrificing control, SUSE offers a pragmatic path forward—one that respects existing investments while enabling future innovation. Whether you're just beginning your cloud-native journey or scaling AI across multi-cloud environments, SUSE's platform provides the foundation you need.