Episode 126 of the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast features an interview with Armando Viteri, President & CEO at Neubloc.
- Discover the unexpected journey of a technology leader from reluctant adopter to AI strategist
- Explore the critical role of soft skills in emerging AI-driven careers
- Uncover the challenges enterprises face when transitioning to AI-powered operations
- Examine the potential future of sales and marketing roles in an AI-dominated landscape
- Navigate the complex workforce transformation triggered by artificial intelligence
- Understand the strategic importance of job reskilling in the AI era
- Investigate the current state of data storage and its connection to AI development
- Analyze the global competition for AI technological supremacy
- Recognize the diminishing need for traditional sales and customer support roles
- Evaluate the potential career paths for professionals in technology and AI
- Anticipate the dramatic changes in enterprise productivity through AI integration
- Identify the key considerations for companies planning AI adoption strategies
Host:
Joshua Feinberg
DCSMI
Special Guest:
Armando Viteri, President & CEO
Neubloc
Armando Viteri, President and CEO of Neubloc, discusses the inexorable shift towards AI integration in corporate productivity, likening it to the necessity of an internet presence for Fortune 500 companies. Neubloc, initially focused on storage device firmware, has evolved to provide AI solutions for global 1000 companies. Viteri highlights the importance of soft skills in the AI workforce and the need for retraining and upskilling. He predicts a 90% reduction in marketing and sales headcount due to AI advancements, emphasizing the continued importance of human interaction in customer-facing roles. Viteri also notes the commoditization of data center components except for disk drives, which remain a duopoly.
Outline
Armando Viteri's Journey into AI and Neubloc
- Armando Viteri, President and CEO of Neubloc, discusses the company's focus on AI development, machine learning, and IoT.
- Armando shares his background, initially having no interest in technology but eventually becoming involved in AI and Neubloc.
- Neubloc started as a boutique private equity group, focusing on technical challenges and becoming a primary third-party development platform for storage devices.
- The company's firmware is used in 56% of the global cloud, highlighting its significant impact on the data center industry.
Neubloc's Evolution and AI Investment
- Armando explains how Neubloc's CTO, Dr. Na, convinced the partnership to invest heavily in AI around 2016-2017 due to advancements in AI technology.
- The company initially focused on departmental AI implementations for global 1000 companies.
- The arrival of generative AI in 2022, with ChatGPT, changed the landscape, leading Neubloc to provide executive education and strategic roadmaps for AI adoption.
- Neubloc now operates at both the bottom of the supply chain (firmware) and the top (enterprise-scale AI), bridging the gap between storage and AI implementation.
Advice for Emerging Technologists
- Armando offers advice to young people interested in technology careers, emphasizing the importance of both hard and soft skills.
- He shares personal anecdotes about his children's careers, highlighting the stability of certain roles compared to rapidly changing AI fields.
- Armando believes that soft skills like communication and project management will become increasingly valuable as AI tools automate more technical tasks.
- He encourages thinking about mid-career professionals who can transition into AI-related roles, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to skill development.
Challenges and Opportunities in AI Adoption
- Armando discusses the strategic challenges companies face when implementing AI, including corporate edicts on job security and resistance from middle management.
- He highlights the importance of job re-skilling and strategic planning to manage the transition to AI at the core.
- Joshua Feinberg and Armando discuss the impact of AI on sales and marketing roles, with a shift towards more specialized and consultative roles.
- Armando emphasizes the need for a middle path that balances job security with strategic AI adoption, ensuring a positive outcome for both employees and companies.
Future of Data Storage and AI
- Armando predicts that the demand for data storage will continue to grow, driven by the increasing number of data centers and the need for more storage capacity.
- He believes that the early majority phase of AI adoption for enterprises will begin in the next three to five years.
- Armando discusses the commoditization of data center hardware, with the exception of disk drives, which remain specialized and non-commoditized.
- He highlights the importance of AI at the edge and the changing composition of data centers, with a focus on GPU clusters and AI-driven storage solutions.
Global AI Competition and Workforce Development
- Armando touches on the global race for AI supremacy, with various regions competing to lead in AI technology.
- He emphasizes the need for workforce development and retraining to address the impact of AI on jobs, particularly in sales and marketing roles.
- Armando shares his involvement in an NSF-funded grant to develop a community college curricula for AI careers, focusing on both young students and mid-career professionals.
- He stresses the importance of balancing hard and soft skills in AI careers and the need for companies to plan for the transition to AI-driven workforces.
Armando's Vision for Neubloc's Future
- Armando envisions Neubloc's data storage business expanding to meet the growing demand for storage capacity.
- He predicts that the early majority phase of AI adoption will lead to large-scale AI deployment in enterprises.
- Armando discusses the challenges companies face in managing the transition to AI, including job re-skilling and change management.
- He highlights the importance of strategic planning and executive education in preparing companies for the AI-driven future.
Impact of AI on Sales and Marketing Roles
- Armando and Joshua discuss the impact of AI on sales and marketing roles, with a shift towards more specialized and consultative roles.
- Armando emphasizes the importance of human interaction and relationship management in sales, even as AI takes over more routine tasks.
- He highlights the need for companies to adapt their sales and marketing strategies to incorporate AI while maintaining a human touch.
- Armando shares examples of how Neubloc's own startups have transitioned to AI-driven customer interactions, reducing the need for traditional sales roles.
Armando's Personal Insights and Industry Trends
- Armando shares his personal insights on the future of AI and data storage, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and adaptation.
- He discusses the commoditization of data center hardware and the unique challenges posed by disk drives.
- Armando highlights the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the AI industry, with rapid changes expected in the coming years.
- He encourages companies to stay informed and proactive in their AI strategies, ensuring they remain competitive in the evolving landscape.
Resources and Contact Information
- Armando encourages listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn for more information and resources on AI and Neubloc.
- He highlights a series of white papers available on LinkedIn, covering topics such as AI readiness, strategic decisions, and industry trends.
- Armando emphasizes the importance of staying informed and prepared for the future of AI and data storage.
- Joshua Feinberg thanks Armando for his insights and encourages listeners to subscribe to the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast for more episodes.
Guest Resources
Resources
Do you want to stay up to date about upcoming episodes?
Subscribe to the Data Center Sales and Marketing Newsletter