Advancements in AI: theCUBE insights from Dell Technologies World – SiliconANGLE

This week’s discussions at Dell Technologies World highlighted several key trends and innovations shaping the tech industry. From advancements in AI and sustainability to the importance of networking and infrastructure, the event underscored the rapid evolution and integration of new technologies in enterprise solutions.

Dell’s strategy, particularly with its AI Factory and multicloud solutions, positions it to lead in this transformative era.

“Dell wants to capture that upgrade cycle that’s coming with AI,” said John Furrier (pictured, left), executive analyst at theCUBE Research. “You’ve got clustered systems at the servers, so servers are changing. The PCs are changing. The devices are changing. Everything in the network will be connected with some sort of AI system, and the hardware matters. Dell recognizes that.”

Furrier talked with his fellow analysts, Savannah Peterson (middle) and Bob Laliberte (right), kicking off theCUBE’s third day of live coverage at Dell Technologies World. They discussed Dell’s strategic advancements in AI, sustainability and networking, highlighting its comprehensive approach to integrating cutting-edge technology across all facets of enterprise operations. (* Disclosure below.)

Advancements in AI and embracing the AI revolution

At the core of Dell’s strategy is the AI Factory, a concept designed to integrate AI across all facets of its operations and product offerings. This ensures that every component, from servers to edge devices, leverages AI to enhance performance and productivity, according to Furrier.

“The AI Factory just resonates, and everything about what they’re doing around that is a solid strategy,” he said. “Now they’ve just got to execute.”

The practical applications of AI span across different tiers of enterprise operations, enhancing productivity and transforming data into actionable information at every level. Dell’s AI capabilities extend beyond large data centers to include AI-powered PCs, thereby enhancing productivity at every level of the enterprise, Laliberte explained.

“It’s really about extending that capability across an entire enterprise, from core data that they’re getting out all the way down to making employees more productive and so forth,” he said.

This approach underscores Dell’s commitment to leveraging AI to transform data into actionable information, benefiting all aspects of business operations.

The emphasis on networking is a critical point in the tech industry, highlighting its essential role in supporting AI and advanced technologies. Robust and high-performance networking infrastructure is crucial for ensuring seamless connectivity and efficiency across enterprise operations.

“It’s been great to see — on the main stage, Dell keynotes — them actually talking about networking in more than a passing phrase,” Laliberte added. “It’s a great acknowledgment, and it also highlights the importance of that connectivity and these backend systems and the need for them to be really high performance, low latency, non-blocking.”

Sustainability and future innovations

Sustainability was a recurring theme at this week’s event, reflecting the industry’s growing commitment to environmentally friendly practices. There was a strong focus on reducing power consumption and enhancing energy efficiency in hardware, demonstrating a dedication to both cost savings and environmental responsibility.

“It’s nice to see not just the advancements in the hardware and in the nerdy stuff that I personally enjoy so much, but also the emphasis on sustainability across the board,” Peterson said. “Not just making sure that we’re lowering power consumption on some of these intense compute activities because of saving money, but also saving our planet.”

Dell is actively addressing power consumption and efficiency by incorporating advanced chip technology and sustainable design principles into its products. The company aims to optimize energy usage in AI environments, ensuring that its hardware not only delivers high performance, but also operates in an environmentally responsible manner. This approach reflects a broader industry trend toward sustainability, with efforts focused on reducing power consumption and leveraging innovative technologies to create more energy-efficient solutions. By prioritizing these aspects, Dell is positioning itself as a leader in the push for greener, more sustainable tech practices, according to theCUBE analysts.

This includes “being able to go in and do an assessment to understand how much available power you have for your AI environments, being able to look at some of the new chip technology that’s coming up that Dell’s making available to save power from one side so they can leverage it for AI,” Laliberte said.

TheCUBE analysts also touched on the future of AI and its potential applications. Furrier envisions a future where AI agents become a reality, autonomously performing tasks and significantly enhancing efficiency and productivity across various industries.

“My fantasy is coming up about agents,” he said. “I can’t wait to see how that works, because when you actually have tasks that it does for you, that’s where I think the market’s exciting.”

The future of AI extends beyond enterprise applications, with significant implications for everyday consumer technology. As AI continues to evolve, it will increasingly be integrated into devices that people use daily, such as laptops and smartphones. This integration will make advanced AI capabilities accessible to a broader audience, enhancing the functionality and user experience of these devices.

“The consumer impact is going to be at the edge,” Peterson said. “It’s going to be in our edge devices, in our laptops and our cell phones. That’s where most of the planet will engage with this technology. I would say that we’re close.”

Is Dell getting it right?

Dell is taking a proactive approach in fostering innovation and supporting organizations in their AI journeys. The company’s comprehensive strategy includes developing cutting-edge hardware, forging strong industry partnerships and creating an ecosystem that facilitates seamless integration of AI technologies, according to Furrier.

This holistic approach not only positions Dell as a leader in the tech industry, but also empowers other organizations to adopt and benefit from AI advancements.

“Dell’s getting it right,” Furrier said.

Laliberte agreed, adding: “They’re absolutely doing a lot to encourage organizations to get started now and providing the solutions and the vehicles for them to do that.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of Dell Technologies World:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for Dell Technologies World. Neither Dell Technologies, the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE