The tech industry has been marked by cyclical waves of innovation that redefine the landscape every decade or so. The current transformative force is artificial intelligence, which is integrating into every facet of technology at an unprecedented pace. AI innovation is poised to keep expanding.

The rapid advancement of AI is reshaping not just products and services, but entire business models, highlighting the critical role of data in this evolution. Companies that harness these changes effectively are positioned to lead the market, driving productivity and efficiency to new heights.

CEO Michael Dell talks with theCUBE about AI innovation and how Dell is helping to drive the AI revolution.

“It feels like Dell Technologies was made for this moment,” said Michael Dell (pictured), chief executive officer of Dell Technologies Inc. “You see how our teams are energized. We’re building the solutions, the AI Factory, the compute, the storage, the networking, the memory, the services, the broad ecosystem, from open and closed, and the professional services to make it all happen.”

Dell spoke with theCUBE’s Dave Vellante and Savannah Peterson at Dell Technologies World, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how Dell is driving the AI revolution by rapidly adapting to industry changes, focusing on customer needs and leveraging strategic partnerships to innovate and future-proof their operations. (* Disclosure below.)

The accelerating pace of AI innovation

The transformative power of AI is reshaping the tech landscape at an unprecedented pace. This rapid evolution highlights the urgency for companies to adapt swiftly to stay competitive.

“What’s exciting about our industry is about every 10 years something comes along and it kind of redefines the opportunity for technology to have an impact in the world,” Dell said. “We’ve seen that with the internet, microprocessors, the PC, clouds and mobile, and now obviously, AI. The key difference is it’s happening maybe 10 times faster than those other waves.”

Dell’s observation underscores the urgency with which companies must adapt to this fast-moving landscape. Dell has strategically positioned itself to capitalize on this AI revolution, according to Dell. The company’s comprehensive approach and holistic strategy is designed to support the varied and expanding needs of AI-driven applications across industries.

“We’re reinventing Dell, future-proofing Dell so we can be better, faster, stronger and continue to serve our customers,” Dell said.

The evolution toward AI was not incidental, but a calculated move by the company. This deliberate strategy underscores Dell Technologies’ commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, Dell explained.

“When we saw these generative AI models, we imagined what could that mean for how we operate as a company,” he said. “It really kicked us into a totally different gear. And we said this is the moment to reimagine [our future].”

This proactive stance has enabled Dell Technologies to innovate continually and maintain its competitive edge. As a result, the company is well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the AI-driven market, Dell added.

Reinventing and future-proofing Dell Technologies

The decision to pivot toward AI was driven by the realization that failing to adapt could render the company obsolete. Recognizing the critical importance of innovation, Dell embraced AI to ensure long-term success and relevance in a rapidly changing industry.

“If we don’t do this, somebody else is going to do it, and they can put us out of business,” Dell said. “So, let’s go do it and let’s go all in.”

This bold approach has led to significant advancements in the company’s offerings, particularly in addressing the needs of enterprise customers that require sophisticated AI infrastructure. By continuously evolving its products and services, Dell ensures it remains a vital partner for businesses navigating the complexities of AI integration, according to Dell.

“We started seeing a lot of new demand from customers as they were deploying these models, needing training systems. They were saying, ‘OK, this is great, but I need way faster networking and way faster storage. And I want to connect thousands and tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of these together. Can you help us?'” Dell explained.

This customer-centric approach ensures that Dell’s solutions are aligned with the practical requirements of AI deployment. It also fosters strong relationships with clients, reinforcing Dell’s reputation as a reliable and innovative technology partner.

Another key aspect of Dell’s strategy is its focus on the edge computing market.

“In the future, most of the edge devices will be machines talking to machines,” Dell said. “And we’re actually already seeing it. It’s not really the future; it’s right now.”

The company’s NativeEdge platform aims to simplify the management and deployment of edge computing resources, catering to industries such as manufacturing and retail, where the demand for localized processing and data management is growing.

Building trust and partnerships

Relationships and partnerships play a pivotal role in Dell Technologies’ success. Dell reflected on his long-standing connections with industry leaders such as Jensen Huang of Nvidia Corp. and Bill McDermott of ServiceNow Inc.

“We built friendships and relationships and trust. Did a lot of work together and also became friends along the way with a shared view of the opportunities and the things we can do together,” he said.

These partnerships are not just beneficial, but essential in a rapidly evolving industry. They enable Dell to leverage collective expertise and resources to drive innovation. By collaborating with industry leaders, Dell can swiftly adapt to new challenges and seize emerging opportunities.

“Those friendships are super-valuable,” he added. “And when we’re moving quickly, we need trusted partnerships to be able to get things done.”

Looking to the future, Michael Dell is optimistic about the positive impact of AI and technology on society. He envisions advancements that will enhance and benefit humanity in numerous ways. “Technology has always been about making us healthier, safer and more productive in all human endeavors,” Dell said. “I think what we’re unleashing with this AI superpower is advancing scientific discovery.”

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