Dell Technologies founder and CEO Michael Dell said in a 2017 interview with Forbes that companies can use growing amounts of data and emerging technologies to predict problems before they happen. Speaking about how businesses can make better use of data, Dell said, “I can predict things. I can improve the uptime and the reliability. I can intervene and cause a better outcome before there’s a problem.” He explained that organisations were only beginning to unlock the value of their data and pointed to what he called “narrow artificial intelligence” as one of the technologies making this possible.
What Michael Dell meant
During the interview, Dell said businesses were creating and storing more data than ever before. He described data as the “fuel” behind advances in artificial intelligence and machine intelligence. According to him, companies were only using a small portion of the information they collected, even though that data could help improve products, services and decision-making.Dell explained that as organisations gather more historical and real-time data, they can begin to identify patterns that were previously difficult to spot. This allows businesses to predict equipment failures, improve system reliability and take action before customers are affected.When Dell spoke about improving “uptime and reliability,” he was referring to keeping business systems, networks and digital services running smoothly with fewer interruptions. Instead of reacting after a problem occurs, companies can use data-driven tools to detect early warning signs and prevent disruptions.
Why Michael Dell’s quote still matters
Although Michael Dell made these remarks in 2017, the idea has become increasingly relevant as businesses adopt more data-driven technologies.Today, organisations across industries use predictive systems to monitor equipment, improve cybersecurity, manage cloud infrastructure and optimise operations. These tools analyse large amounts of data to identify risks and recommend actions before problems become serious.Dell also said that many companies were only beginning to understand how valuable their data could become over time. As more connected devices generate information, he believed the ability to use that data effectively would become a key advantage for businesses.