Rob Rae Talks AI and Acapella (EP 1022)
AI is no longer something MSPs should be planning for someday. It's happening right now. Rob Rae joined me at Pax8 Beyond 2026 to discuss how partners are turning AI from a talking point into a business opportunity and what comes next for the channel. From MCP servers and AI agents to partner growth and industry transformation, this conversation offers a practical look at where MSPs can find value in a rapidly changing market.
The pace of change in the AI market continues to accelerate, and few people have a better view of the MSP ecosystem than Rob Rae. During our conversation at Pax8 Beyond 2026, we discussed how AI has evolved from strategy discussions into implementation, execution, and measurable business outcomes.
Rob shared his thoughts on MSPs creating their own AI solutions, the importance of governance and compliance, and why the industry is still in the early stages of figuring out what works. We also revisited some of Pax8's challenges from the previous year and talked about how organizations grow through change while maintaining trust with partners.
=== Chapters
- 00:18 AI and Beyond Kickoff
- 04:40 Managed Intelligence Revealed
- 07:04 MSPs and the AI Wild West
- 11:58 Next Year’s Venue Tease
- 15:07 Partner Program Growing Pains
- 20:08 Venue, Games, and Vibes
- 21:29 Mystery Musical Guest
=== Guest: Rob Rae, Pax8
- Website: https://www.pax8.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robtrae/
=== Shout-outs
- Scott Chasin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottchasin/
- Matt Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybermattlee/
- Austin McChord: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcchord/
=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books
- Pax8: https://www.pax8.com/en-us/
- Pax8 Beyond: https://www.pax8beyond.com/
- Datto: https://www.datto.com/
- Kaseya: https://www.kaseya.com/
- Rev.io: https://www.rev.io/
=== SPONSORS:
- Livestream Partner, ThreatLocker: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/threatlocker
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- Digital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready
=== SHOW MUSIC:
- Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo
- Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UET
- Author Username: AlexanderRufire
- Item License Code: 7X9F52DNML
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Corporate Vice President of Community and Ecosystems
Rob Rae is the Corporate Vice President of Community and Ecosystems at Pax8. He joined Pax8 in February 2023 and is leveraging his decades of channel, vendor, and managed service provider experience to build relationships with MSPs. He previously served as the SVP of Business Development at Datto for more than five years.
Rob is an award-winning speaker who has been recognized on many executive industry influencer lists and sits on several industry advisory boards, including the Board of Directors for CompTIA. He is well-known in the IT channel for his decades of channel, vendor, and managed service provider experience.
