Simplifying AI for All

Ahmad Alkhallafi, Managing Director for United Arab Emirates & Africa at HPE, shares HPE’s Vision to Democratize AI Adoption.

What was the main theme of your participation at Gitex this year?

First of all, we were very proud to be back at GITEX. This event was significant globally, allowing us to showcase our latest innovations each year. AI was the prevailing theme worldwide, and at HPE, we were committed to a future-ready strategy. A decade ago, our CEO, Antonio Neri, announced our vision of being edge-to-cloud and data-driven. Over the past years, we acquired companies to strengthen this approach. At GITEX, we confidently presented a range of technologies designed to meet the evolving needs of our customers and partners.

Everyone is talking about AI. So, what is HPE doing to democratize AI and simplify the AI journey for customers?

That’s a great question. AI is real and impactful, but deploying AI-ready infrastructure can be complex. In June, we announced the Private Cloud for AI, powered by HPE in partnership with NVIDIA. We’ve simplified the process with a ready-to-use appliance for all AI stages—training, tuning, and inferencing. This modular solution, available in four sizes, allows enterprises to fine-tune models with private data and easily integrate AI into their operations.

What about companies without the technical infrastructure or expertise to implement AI? How are you making adoption easier for them?

With PCAI, we’ve laid the groundwork. It includes pre-embedded infrastructure and ready-to-use models, developed in collaboration with NVIDIA, tailored to common enterprise needs. This solution provides advanced yet accessible AI capabilities, enabling businesses of any size to leverage AI effortlessly. That’s our goal—to make AI adoption simple and accessible.

Are you seeing any interesting use cases? What kind of examples have you come across?

Absolutely, we’re seeing many emerging use cases—just the tip of the iceberg. ChatGPT sparked this shift, especially in realistic chatbot interactions. At our stand this year, we’re showcasing a holographic display of our CEO that can respond to any question, powered by a large language model embedded with comprehensive HPE information. This setup enables real-time, human-like interaction with our CEO, even when he’s not physically present.

That example alone demonstrates the power of AI, especially in customer service and other complex applications. This is just one of many use cases we’re seeing. For instance, in contract management, AI is transforming how organizations respond to RFPs, streamlining analysis and guiding responses efficiently. We’re also seeing significant AI applications in the financial sector, where it enhances operational efficiency. Many of our partners are already utilizing these AI-driven capabilities to better understand requirements and drive strategic direction.

AI certainly enhances efficiency, as you mentioned. There are concerns about AI potentially replacing jobs. Will AI and automation make certain roles redundant?

I believe the impact will vary by industry. Historically, we’ve seen shifts in technology trends, and the human element remains essential. While there may be changes in how tasks are managed, overall, I think the outcome will be positive for everyone in the long run.

There’s a lot of discussion around AI governance and the need for responsible AI. What is HPE’s stance on this?

This is a crucial topic, and HPE is committed to responsible AI, both ethically and environmentally. AI systems require substantial power and space, so at HPE, we’re pioneering direct liquid cooling technology. This innovation allows for higher-density setups with reduced space and energy requirements. We’re especially proud of our recent partnership with Khazna, which has introduced the first direct liquid cooling setup in the UAE and the Middle East, actively supporting sustainability and reducing environmental impact.