Antonio Neri, president and chief executive officer of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., is spearheading a revolutionary shift in the technology landscape with his visionary approach to AI transformation and high-performance computing.

Under the leadership of Neri (pictured), HPE is advancing the integration of AI systems and transforming how enterprises deploy and benefit from these technologies. Neri’s strategic insights and commitment to innovation are positioning HPE at the forefront of the next Industrial Revolution, driving significant advancements in AI infrastructure and customer experience.

HPE CEO Antonio Neri talks with theCUBE about AI transformation and hybrid cloud adoption.

“Generative AI has the opportunity to transform the world again, but when it comes down to AI and particularly the customers we serve the most, they tell us, ‘It’s very complex. It’s very difficult. And, at the same time, it’s a huge investment,’” Neri said. “So, they need expertise, they need the simplicity of deployment and they need to prove the return on investment on that step that they’re taking.”

Neri spoke with theCUBE Research’s John Furrier and Dave Vellante at HPE Discover, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the rapid changes in enterprises due to global competition and new technologies, key announcements made during Neri’s keynote, and HPE’s differentiation in AI. Additionally, they covered how HPE GreenLake enables hybrid cloud adoption and the anticipated impact of acquiring Juniper Networks Inc., particularly in the AI transformation era. (* Disclosure below.)

AI transformation: The next Industrial Revolution

HPE has been at the forefront of AI technology for more than 20 years, primarily serving niche markets with its supercomputing capabilities. However, with the advent of generative AI, the company believes it’s poised to revolutionize industries on a much larger scale.

“We have been working on our AI strategy for a long time. Let’s remind ourselves that HPE has been in the AI business for more than two decades,” Neri said. “But obviously two years ago, we achieved a major breakthrough with the generative AI.”

HPE’s strategic collaboration with Nvidia Corp. underscores this shift. The partnership leverages Nvidia’s AI systems with HPE’s strong infrastructure, aiming to create integrated solutions that streamline AI deployment for enterprises. This is not just about selling hardware; it’s about offering a comprehensive suite of services that includes software, infrastructure and support, all unified under the HPE GreenLake platform, Neri pointed out.

“The next Industrial Revolution … is going to be all driven by AI,” he said. “With Jensen [Huang], we spend a lot of time, since last year, talking about the customer requirements, what it means.”

Transforming customer experience

The primary focus for HPE is enhancing the customer experience, according to Neri, who categorizes customers into three segments: model builders, enterprises and hyperscalers, each requiring distinct AI capabilities. For enterprises, the emphasis is on creating an integrated experience that simplifies AI application deployment.

“Yesterday, the announcement was all about the experience. Then, in an AI application-driven approach, how we bring it all in an experience that you can deploy from the tools, the cloud operating model and make it all look like one integrated offer,” Neri said.

Neri’s vision includes making sophisticated AI tools accessible and manageable for enterprises. By reducing the complexity and improving the integration of AI systems, HPE aims to accelerate AI adoption across various industries.

“What we did yesterday with Jensen [Huang] is to deliver the amazing innovation that he has with amazing innovation HPE has in one integrated experience and leverage that unified platform, called HPE GreenLake, to deploy [in] three clicks … 24 seconds,” Neri said.

The ultimate goal is to enable enterprises to deploy AI applications seamlessly, with minimal complexity and maximum efficiency. HPE’s strategy also involves training its workforce and ensuring that both HPE and Nvidia present a unified front to customers.

“From a go-to-market perspective, we are going to show up as one company, not two companies, in front of a customer,” Neri said. “We’re going to show up as one company selling the same thing.”

This unified approach is crucial for effectively addressing customer needs and ensuring a streamlined, cohesive service delivery.

Future prospects and strategic focus

Looking ahead, Neri sees networking as a critical component of HPE’s future strategy, particularly with the acquisition of Juniper Networks. The integration of Juniper’s technology into HPE’s offerings is key, as it enhances the GreenLake platform’s ability to provide seamless, scalable solutions to meet the growing demands of AI and cloud computing, Neri pointed out.

“Networking is going to be essential. This is why we made the announcement of the acquisition of Juniper,” he said. “When I think about this company going forward, think about GreenLake as the North Star, is how we deliver all these experiences across server, storage, networking, private cloud, all the SaaS software services you need, data protection, observability.”

This acquisition is expected to enhance HPE’s capabilities in delivering integrated, AI-driven solutions that meet the evolving demands of the digital landscape. By leveraging Juniper’s innovative networking technology, HPE aims to provide more robust and scalable infrastructure, enabling enterprises to seamlessly deploy and manage their AI and cloud workloads.

HPE is also maintaining a strong focus on customer needs and continuing to innovate. By actively listening to customer feedback, the company is able to tailor solutions to address specific challenges and requirements. HPE’s customer-centric approach ensures that it remains a trusted partner in helping businesses navigate the complexities of digital transformation, according to Neri.

“This is my seventh year as a CEO doing Discover. Our strategy has not changed since day one,” Neri said. “We talk about the importance of the edge we invested there. We doubled down, and look at the momentum we have with HPE Aruba. And, hopefully, with Juniper, we’re going to have double that momentum.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of HPE Discover:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for HPE Discover. Neither HPE and Intel, the primary sponsors of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE