Artificial intelligence is no longer a question of if enterprises will adopt it, but how far they are willing to go to unlock its potential. And as AI capabilities advance at an unprecedented pace, simply introducing new tools into existing workflows may no longer be enough.
Speaking during his keynote at Dell Technologies Forum Japan 2026, Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, highlighted the transformative potential of AI and the growing need for businesses to rethink how they operate, compete, and create value.
For years, enterprise technology investments have largely focused on making existing processes faster and more efficient. AI is beginning to challenge that approach. Rather than simply helping employees complete tasks more quickly, it presents an opportunity to redesign how work gets done altogether.
The rise of agentic AI makes this shift particularly interesting. As AI evolves from responding to prompts to executing tasks and coordinating workflows, enterprises are approaching a point where the technology could fundamentally change the relationship between people, processes, and systems. But deploying more AI does not automatically translate into better business outcomes.
There is also a less glamorous, but equally important, part of this transformation: data. AI may be advancing rapidly, but its enterprise value still depends heavily on the quality, accessibility, and integration of the information behind it. For organisations operating across fragmented systems, getting their data foundations right could prove just as consequential as investing in the latest AI models.
Perhaps the bigger challenge, however, lies with leadership. Technology can create opportunities, but realising them requires businesses to question established ways of working, experiment with new operating models, and connect AI investments to tangible business objectives. Without that strategic direction, enterprises risk becoming increasingly AI-enabled without necessarily becoming more effective.
What stood out from Dell’s keynote was the broader implication: the AI race is not simply about who has access to the most advanced technology. It is increasingly about which organisations can translate that technology into meaningful operational change.
As enterprises move from AI experimentation toward large-scale adoption, the competitive advantage may ultimately belong to those willing to rethink the business itself, rather than simply automate the way it has always operated.
AI is changing what businesses are capable of. The real question is whether businesses are prepared to change with it.
