Over the last ten years, the concept of a workplace has fundamentally changed, partly due to the tools and technologies available to us. As such, the average workforce is not only hybrid, it’s now also using power-intensive and complex technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) — which continues to drive change for businesses.
This is why a modern business needs innovative tools and services from trusted vendors — services like Z by HP, with its full stack of AI and remote software solutions.
Z by HP is focused on high-performance workstations and mobile devices designed for professionals. The workstations are not your everyday PCs; they’re built to take on heavy workloads like data analytics and visualization, like the Z2 G9 tower and the G9 mini. This is why HP is seen as a leader in the business AI space, as it has a broad portfolio of AI-infused hardware and innovative AI-based services.
“AI is poised to be the most significant driver of change over the next decade, ushering in a new era of innovation-driven not just by information, but actionable insights,” said Tom Saddler, HP UK and Ireland’s data science and AI solution lead.
“HP is making AI real for companies with solutions like Z by HP AI Studio, for places and spaces with our latest hybrid work solutions, and for people with our first HP OmniBook Ultra.”
Z by HP Boost
At its now annual Imagine event HP showcased a full stack of AI capabilities and services, such as AI for Print and its latest range of AI-PCs. However, Z by HP Boost stood out as a potential gaming-changing service, particularly for those who can never get enough GPU power.
Z by HP Boost is about giving you more GPU — or at least sharing your GPU. It gives you secure, scalable, and on-demand performance by putting idle GPUs to work and creating a network of HP workstations to share these available GPU resources for intensive AI tasks.
GPU access can be a scarce resource, and even more so with the growing workloads of AI. Indeed, a study from the Upwork Research Institute, surveying 2,500 C-suite execs, full-time employees, and freelancers across the US, UK, and Australia, found that despite the promise of greater productivity, 77% of employees felt that AI has added to their workload and created more challenges – some even suggested it was leading to burnout.
Part of the issue is the tools businesses use don’t reduce the workload and often create more problems than they solve. This is where Z by HP Boost comes in; it is an on-demand service that operates remotely.
From an enterprise perspective, where you have larger groups of employees all using workstations, the ability to pull GPU resources from idle systems is essentially a way of creating a personal cloud — which reduces the need for third-party cloud AI computing. What’s more, you are not limited by location.
Z by HP AI Studio
Once you’ve got GPU access, HP can assist your AI development workloads with AI Studio, HP’s data science platform. It features tools and computing resources that help teams develop AI and data science models. The Z designation simply means that AI Studio is designed with HP’s workstation users in mind, specifically, data scientists who work on artificial intelligence and machine learning projects.
The platform fosters collaboration with the right tools and computing to accelerate workflows among data scientists and AI developers, no matter where they are. Its unique design allows users to create shared projects, connect to necessary data, and invite more collaborators in just a few clicks.
Teams can deploy models at their discretion, no matter where they are, and scale workflows across local, edge, and cloud environments. It can also accurately predict the cost of AI development, helping organizations to plan and budget more effectively.
These two products — Boost and AI Studio — have both been created with a clear benefit for tight IT budgets, allowing customers to use their resources more effectively and map out their future spending.
HP Anywhere and RCS
The hybrid environment is one of the biggest challenges businesses face. Teams operate in remote setups, often spread across the country, while also retaining the option to come to a central office. Here we need technologies that allow users to work from anywhere but can also be switched to anywhere else.
A great example is HP Anywhere, a high-performance software service that transforms PCs and workstations into digital workspaces. This gives users secure access to remote or virtual desktops without a VPN.
HP Anywhere is based on the award-winning Teradici CAS software and licensing platform, and includes some features of ZCentral Remote Boost and ZCentral Connect, with plenty more to be added in the coming months and years.
Another of HP’s remote work services is its Remote System Controller ‘RCS’. With this, HP customers get a single dashboard for their workstation fleet where they can provide maintenance and support plus regular reports to optimize performance. This includes tasks like pre-boot access, BIOS updates, and re-imaging.
The benefit for businesses here is in the holistic nature of HP Anywhere and RCS. Both services offer enhanced productivity within a hybrid workspace, ensuring users can work across different networks and use graphic-intensive applications without disruption. Their access is also protected, without requiring complex VPN set-ups.
Security remains a priority, ensuring data is protected no matter how much your business scales. This means your workforce can rest assured that their data streams never leave the safety of their networks.
Ultimately, HP’s Z range is a fully stacked offering that fits the hybrid workforce and meets the demands of AI development. It can help your business turn data into insights and add value to your current operations and future aspirations.
