At Dell Technologies World 2025 in Las Vegas, enterprises and nonprofits showcased their deployment of advanced AI applications, moving beyond experimental phases into production environments. These implementations signify a shift from traditional chatbot interactions to more complex, real-world use cases in data centers.

Jeff Clarke, Dell Technologies’ vice chairman and chief operating officer, emphasized the critical nature of AI adoption during his keynote address. He stated, “This is the most disruptive technology I’ve seen in my career. The threat [to your organization] is existential if you don’t respond.” Clarke highlighted the necessity for organizations to integrate AI into their operations to remain competitive.

Dell introduced its “AI Factory” offering, alongside recent storage hardware updates, as part of its strategy to support AI development in hybrid-cloud environments. A significant announcement was the upcoming general availability of “Project Lighting,” a software-defined parallel file system optimized for Dell PowerEdge servers, particularly the R660 model. This system aims to enhance data processing capabilities essential for AI workloads.

Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, addressed concerns about the economic factors affecting hardware upgrades, particularly in North America amidst ongoing tariff disputes. He asserted, “The importance of this technology is greater than all those problems. Tokens are bigger than tariffs, that would summarize our view of it.” Dell underscored the imperative nature of investing in AI infrastructure despite external economic challenges.

Clarke advised organizations to approach AI implementation thoughtfully, cautioning against hasty integration without process optimization. “If you apply AI to a bad process, you just get a bad answer faster,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of aligning AI initiatives with well-structured workflows to maximize effectiveness.

Chris Sullivan, director of research at Dell Technologies, commented on the current AI landscape, observing that recent marketing around generative AI has overshadowed decades of prior research and practical applications. He emphasized the need to recognize and build upon the foundational work that has enabled today’s advancements.

Dell Technologies World 2025 highlighted the company’s commitment to facilitating real-world AI applications through robust infrastructure and strategic partnerships. As organizations continue to integrate AI into their operations, Dell’s offerings aim to support this transition, ensuring that AI becomes a transformative tool across various industries.