Speaking at the ai-Pulse conference in Paris, Michael Dell painted a vivid picture of AI's unprecedented adoption rate and its implications for the future of computing.
The founder and CEO of Dell Technologies appeared via video in a conversation with Aude Durand, Deputy CEO of Illiad Group. Unlike the World Wide Web, which took a decade to gain real traction, AI is experiencing instant, massive uptake through billions of connected devices.
"The World Wide Web showed up in the mid-90s, and people were speculating what it would mean, what parts of society would change," Dell recalled. "There were lots of experiments, many failed, and it took 10 years to see real businesses emerge. Now, five billion-plus people are using AI through their connected devices, and computing power is evolving at breakneck speed."
This rapid adoption is driving what Dell describes as a fundamental shift from "calculating and computing to cognition and thinking." To address this transformation, Dell Technologies has developed what it calls the "AI factory" - a new architectural approach where data, rather than raw materials, serves as the primary input.
The Future is Distributed and Open
Dell envisions AI workloads being distributed across multiple locations, from edge devices like phones and PCs to data centers and clouds. This "multi-cloud" approach acknowledges that different AI applications have varying requirements for data sovereignty, processing power, and latency.
Perhaps most striking is the dramatic shift toward open-source AI models, which Dell notes now represent about two-thirds of AI activity. This marks a complete reversal from just a year ago when closed, proprietary models dominated the landscape. "The world has shifted," Dell explained. "Open models, like what Mistral is doing in France, are driving innovation. You don't always need massive clusters to run AI - it can run on your PC or a small server."
Europe's Rising AI Ecosystem
Dell was enthusiastic about Europe's emerging AI ecosystem, singling out France's innovations. He highlighted the growing importance of sovereign AI solutions, predicting that countries will increasingly seek AI systems that reflect their own cultural values and languages rather than relying on models developed in Silicon Valley.
"Europe is unlocking tremendous innovation and creativity," he said. "The open-source ecosystem is thriving with new ideas and new entrants."
The Energy Challenge
While acknowledging the significant energy demands of AI infrastructure, Dell pointed to promising efficiency improvements. New technologies like direct-to-chip liquid cooling can reduce energy consumption by about 40% while improving density. However, he argued that increased energy consumption is an inevitable aspect of societal advancement.
"There's a massive decline in energy cost per token," Dell explained. "But demand is incredibly high because people want intelligence - that's what these models are creating. For society to advance, we need more energy." He praised France's nuclear power strategy as an exemple for other nations while emphasizing the importance of expanding renewable energy sources including solar, hydro, and wind.
A Tech Optimist's View
Looking ahead, Dell expressed both excitement and caution about AI's trajectory.
"The models we have today are pretty amazing, but they're also the worst they will ever be," he said. "Imagine five years from now when we have way better models trained and inferenced on all of the data. Sometimes I worry it's advancing faster than humans can adapt, but I believe it's ultimately great for humanity - as long as it reflects our values."
As a self-described tech optimist, Dell acknowledged the need for responsible AI development while maintaining his positive outlook. He compared AI to software, noting that its widespread accessibility makes complete control impossible. Instead, he advocated for democratic societies to make informed decisions about AI's implementation while maintaining appropriate safeguards.
Rather than trying to halt AI's advance, he argued, we should focus on harnessing its potential while carefully managing its risks.
Dell suggestedd that the AI revolution is not just about technological advancement but about reshaping how we think about computing, energy infrastructure, and societal progress. With the right approach to development and deployment, he believes AI can become a powerful force for human advancement while remaining aligned with our values and cultural diversity.
"Most people want to use technology for beneficial purposes," Dell said. "AI will be an expansionary force creating more opportunities for everyone."
