Michael Dell told the assorted throngs at Dell Technologies World that they needed to splash out on AI and data. Well he would, wouldn’t he?
Speaking to a room of more than 14,000 delegates including 5,000 channel representatives in Las Vegas, Dell said organisations were going to lose their competitive edge if they didn’t implement AI and machine learning to use data.
“To be competitive in the future, you have got to use software and data and AI. Businesses are starting to use AI and machine learning to use that data much more effectively… Data helps make a product or a solution better, and this allows a company to attract more customers, which then results in more data, and the cycle repeats itself.”
He added: “AI is your rocket ship and data is the fuel for your rocket. If you know how to use it, your data will become your most valuable asset – even more valuable than your applications.”
Dell thought his PC business would continue to thrive despite a push towards emerging technologies such as AI and IoT.
Michael Dell recounted IBM’s departure from the PC business more than 20 years ago. Dell’s CEO said that at the time Biggish Blue declared the beginning of a post-PC era.
“Our PC business is rocking. In the last five years, every year and every quarter we have gained share, and we expect to do so again this quarter. It has been 20 years since IBM declared the post-PC era. Since then, four billion PCs have been sold, so maybe they got that bit wrong. But what they got right is that computing would expand to include embedded devices.”
