Strategic thought leadership around AI is not just valuable—it’s essential. At the recent Channel Partners Conference in Las Vegas, Jay McBain of Canalys, Ed Soo Hoo from Lenovo, Tom Wall from HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise), and Greg Maxson from MongoDB provided profound insights into the future of AI and its implications for the channel. Their discussions were not mere sales pitches but thoughtful advice on the strategic necessities of today’s businesses in the face of AI’s relentless advance.
Jay McBain and Ed Soo Hoo: Visionaries in the AI Era
I was like a fanboy watching Jay McBain and Ed Soo Hoo stand out as strategic thought leaders in the AI domain. Their contributions to the debate on whether AI will live up to its hype or fizzle out highlighted the critical need for a nuanced understanding of AI’s potential and challenges. McBain’s perspective on the cautious optimism pervading the industry, shaped by past experiences with emerging technologies like IoT, sets the stage for a balanced approach to AI adoption. His emphasis on the importance of specificity in leveraging the $158 billion in services available underscores the vast opportunities AI presents to the channel.
Ed Soo Hoo’s discussion brought a unique blend of wisdom and wit, using cultural references to articulate the complex emotions surrounding AI adoption—FOBO (fear of being obsolete), FOMO (fear of missing out), and the “fog of AI.” His advice to start with the basics—knowing what you want, understanding what you have, determining what you need, and caring about the outcomes—provides a clear roadmap for businesses navigating the AI landscape. Soo Hoo’s emphasis on personalizing business interactions resonates deeply in an era where technology often feels impersonal.
Tom Wall: Educating and Preparing the Channel for AI
HPE’s approach to AI, positions them as a company deeply committed to educating and preparing the channel for the AI revolution. Their focus on consulting solutions, investment in skills and capabilities, and support services for channel partners reflect a comprehensive strategy to empower businesses in the AI era. HPE’s emphasis on inferencing, AI tuning, new professional services, and high-performance computing (HPC) for AI showcases HPE’s commitment to providing the tools and knowledge necessary for success in AI adoption.
HPE’s investment in software tools and acquisitions aimed at enhancing machine learning development environments around journaling further demonstrates its dedication to supporting the channel. Their proactive stance on addressing potential challenges, such as copyright issues with AI-generated content, highlights their forward-thinking approach to the ethical and practical aspects of AI.
Greg Maxson: The Database for AI’s Future
MongoDB’s participation in the debate, emphasizing flexibility and choice in AI application development, underscores its ambition to be the database of choice for both private and public large language models (LLMs). Their call to action for channel partners to engage with MongoDB for integration with their technologies and services is a testament to the collaborative spirit necessary for success in the AI-driven future. 
My Learnings from the Panel
The channel has an opportunity to help organizations only if they are prepared. The insights from Jay McBain, Ed Soo Hoo, and Tom Wall at the Channel Partners Conference illuminate the path forward in the AI revolution. Their strategic thought leadership and commitment to educating and preparing the channel for AI’s challenges and opportunities are invaluable resources for businesses navigating this transformative era. As AI continues to reshape the landscape of technology and business, the wisdom and foresight of these leaders and their companies will undoubtedly play a big role in guiding the channel toward a future where AI not only lives up to its hype but exceeds our wildest expectations.
