The technology landscape has been rapidly evolving with the rise of AI in enterprise solutions. Companies large and small are increasingly interested in leveraging AI to enhance their operations, despite initial hesitations and challenges.

While some anxiety remains around AI adoption, possible security concerns and sustainability in computing infrastructure, one of the key takeaways from this week’s HPE Discover event is the importance of embracing experimental attitudes toward AI, navigating associated risks effectively and updating legacy systems to optimize power consumption.

HPE’s Krista Satterthwaite talks with theCUBE about how HPE is helping with AI in enterprise solutions to enhance operations.

“The whole topic of AI, gen AI has just been an accelerator for us, our customers, our channel partners, distributors, everyone’s really excited about the possibility,” said Krista Satterthwaite (pictured), senior vice president and general manager of mainstream compute at Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. “We have a mission to help enterprise customers take advantage of AI, and what we’re seeing is that enterprise customers are really, really interested but they haven’t really gotten started very much.”

Satterthwaite spoke with theCUBE’s Dave Vellante and Rebecca Knight at HPE Discover, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed AI in enterprise solutions, the importance of embracing AI technology, addressing sustainability in computing and the role of strategic partnerships in driving innovation. They also talked about HPE’s efforts to facilitate AI adoption and improve energy efficiency in data centers. (* Disclosure below.)

AI in enterprise solutions: Overcoming hesitations and advancing technology

Many enterprises find themselves in what Satterthwaite describes as the “gen AI beginner’s window,” a period where everyone is learning and experimenting with AI technologies. Despite this, some organizations remain hesitant due to the perceived rapid pace of AI development and the associated risks.

“One of the first things I want people to realize is that … we’re still in the gen Ai beginner’s window,” Satterthwaite said. “Everybody is still just getting started, and I don’t want anybody to be hesitant because they feel so behind they’re stuck.”

To facilitate AI adoption, at this week’s event HPE introduced the HPE Private Cloud AI, a turnkey solution designed to help businesses that are unsure how to start their AI journey. This solution integrates compute, storage, networking and software, enabling companies to get started with a few clicks.

“With Private Cloud AI, we give the control for privacy, security, transparency and governance, so this is a really good option for them,” she said.

Sustainability in computing: The path forward

The practical challenges of AI, including energy consumption and sustainability, also hinder its adoption. A significant issue contributing to this is the presence of outdated servers in data centers, which consume excessive power.

“Forty percent of servers are five years old or older and they’re … doing 7% of the work in the data center but using 66% of the power,” Satterthwaite said.

Sustainability in technology is a growing concern, and HPE is addressing this by encouraging businesses to upgrade their infrastructure. The benefits of updating to more efficient systems can be immense.

“If you … upgrade [to ProLiant Gen11], 90% less power [is used]. There are not many ways to save 90%,” Satterthwaite said. “And if it’s Gen9, it’s eight to one.”

This not only reduces energy consumption, but also enhances performance, aligning with broader environmental goals. It allows businesses to modernize their IT infrastructure while significantly lowering their carbon footprint.

HPE’s approach includes recycling and repurposing older equipment through HPE Financial Services, ensuring that businesses can transition smoothly to newer technologies without significant financial burdens. This helps companies maintain operational efficiency while contributing to a more sustainable IT ecosystem, according to Satterthwaite.

“We have programs to help them with that,” she said. “We even have programs like Accelerated Migration, so if they do have assets that they need to hold on to for accounting purposes or they’re not ready to migrate to something else, we can give them cash for those owned assets and they can turn it into a pay-as-you-go.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of HPE Discover:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for HPE Discover. Neither Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. and Intel Corp., the primary sponsors of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE