Dell has called for increased focus on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data for better business development.
This was the focus of Dell’s Innovate with Data Summit in Lagos.
At the summit, which had the theme “AI Everywhere, Data Everywhere,” he enumerated the importance of data in digital transformation in the age of AI, saying, “Innovation is about thinking about the future and filling the gaps, and those gaps need to be filled with data.”
In his opening remarks, Abdelmortsine Sarsouri, Regional Manager, Central West Africa, Dell Technologies, said that Dell Technologies’ strategy enables businesses to accelerate their digital transformation from idea to innovation.
“In today’s rapidly evolving environment, innovation is more important than ever, and every idea, big or small, can improve efficiency, productivity and growth,” he said.
He said a survey called the “Innovation Quotient,” conducted in 2023 to examine how organizations are innovating following the advantages created by the pandemic, revealed that innovation leaders and adopters are innovating in three areas: people, process and technology.
“At Dell Technologies, we believe innovation is the engine that transforms and moves organizations forward, and it starts with our people and their ideas and is fueled by data. By leveraging Dell Technologies as a catalyst for innovation, we can accelerate from idea to innovation,” he said.
“To be successful with AI, you need three things: fuel, engine and driver. The fuel is data, the engine is the computer and the driver is the algorithms and expertise,” said Hani Khalaf, chief technology officer (CTO) for data and AI solutions at Dell Technologies CEEMETA region.
According to Khalaf, AI has been around for a very long time. “In November 2022, a disruptive event called the ‘iPhone moment’ in AI will occur, bringing about the emergence of ChatGPT and making generative AI a hot topic around the world. Generative AI is a disruptive technology that is about creating new text, new content, new video, and even new audio.”
He also explained that if generative AI is run in the wrong way, it could lead to loss of intellectual property, as well as loss of credibility and integrity.
According to Khalaf, the potential of generative AI can help clients uncover hidden opportunities to extract and create value from existing data in terms of accelerating business operations, automating sales and marketing, advancing medical science, research and drug discovery, and transforming billions of “cold” data points into high value.