IBM Unveils watsonx AI Labs: The Ultimate Accelerator for AI Builders, Startups and Enterprises in New York City

Rhea-AI Summary

IBM has announced watsonx AI Labs, a new innovation hub in Manhattan's One Madison, designed to accelerate AI adoption and development. The initiative aims to connect IBM's enterprise resources with AI developers to build breakthrough business applications. As part of this launch, IBM will acquire expertise and license technology from Seek AI, a NYC-based startup specializing in AI agents for enterprise data. The lab will leverage NYC's growing AI ecosystem, which includes over 2,000 AI startups and has seen $27 billion in funding since 2019. IBM plans to support local startups through its global $500M Enterprise AI Venture Fund over the next five years, offering technical expertise, mentorship, and potential investment opportunities. The lab will focus on creating domain-specific AI solutions for enterprise challenges, including customer service, supply-chain optimization, cybersecurity, and responsible AI governance.

Positive

• Strategic expansion into NYC's thriving AI ecosystem with over 2,000 AI startups
• Access to IBM's global $500M Enterprise AI Venture Fund for promising startups
• Acquisition of expertise and technology licensing from Seek AI strengthens enterprise data capabilities
• Potential for new revenue streams through co-created AI solutions with enterprises

Negative

• Significant investment required in new facilities and talent acquisition
• Increased competition in NYC's saturated AI market
• Integration challenges with acquired Seek AI technology

Insights

AI & Enterprise Technology Strategist

IBM's new watsonx AI Labs in NYC strengthens its enterprise AI position through strategic talent acquisition and ecosystem development.

IBM's establishment of watsonx AI Labs represents a strategic expansion of its AI capabilities in one of the world's most vibrant tech ecosystems. By placing this innovation hub in Manhattan, IBM is tapping into New York City's impressive AI landscape, which includes over 2,000 AI startups and a rapidly growing AI workforce that increased by nearly 25% from 2022 to 2023.

The acquisition of expertise and technology licensing from Seek AI is particularly significant. Seek specializes in agentic AI for enterprise data utilization—technology that can autonomously perform complex tasks across data systems. This capability aligns perfectly with IBM's enterprise-focused strategy and watsonx platform development.

IBM's commitment includes potential investments through its $500 million Enterprise AI Venture Fund, creating a compelling incentive structure for startups to collaborate with IBM rather than competitors. This approach helps IBM cultivate an innovation ecosystem while gaining early access to promising technologies without the full risk of complete acquisitions.

The lab's focus on domain-specific AI solutions addresses a critical market gap. While consumer AI applications have dominated headlines, enterprise-specific AI implementations that navigate complex regulatory environments, legacy systems, and specialized industry requirements represent the next frontier for AI commercialization.

For IBM, watsonx AI Labs functions as both a talent acquisition channel and an external R&D pipeline, potentially accelerating IBM's AI capabilities while distributing development costs across partnerships. This model could improve IBM's ability to compete with larger AI players while maintaining its enterprise market focus.

New AI initiative will co-create gen AI solutions with IBM clients, nurture NYC talent, advance enterprise AI implementations

NEW YORK, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced watsonx AI Labs, a new, developer-first innovation hub in New York City, designed to supercharge AI builders and accelerate AI adoption at scale. watsonx AI Labs connects IBM's enterprise resources and expertise with the next generation of AI developers in order to build breakthrough AI applications for business. 

Located in the heart of Manhattan at IBM's new offices at One Madison, watsonx AI Labs extends IBM's global network of engineering labs, bringing together IBM researchers and engineers in a collaborative hub dedicated to co-creating and advancing meaningful, agentic AI solutions. The lab will work side-by-side with startups, scale-ups, and the world's largest enterprises to help clients unlock real-world value from their AI.

The lab benefits from – and helps fuel – New York City's status as a global AI hub. New York City has more than 2,000 AI startups, and its AI workforce grew by nearly 25% from 2022 to 2023, according to Tech:NYC. Since 2019, more than 1,000 AI-related companies in New York City have raised $27 billion in funding.

Also today, continuing its commitment to the local startup ecosystem, IBM announced it will acquire expertise and license technology from Seek AI, the New York City-based startup building AI agents to harness enterprise data. Seek AI helps businesses leverage agentic AI to mine value from enterprise data, and their expertise will serve as a foundational part of watsonx AI Labs.

"This isn't your typical corporate lab. watsonx AI Labs is where the best AI developers gain access to world-class engineers and resources and build new businesses and applications that will reshape AI for the enterprise," said Ritika Gunnar, General Manager, Data & AI, IBM. "By anchoring this mission in New York City, we are investing in a diverse, world‑class talent pool and a vibrant community whose innovations have long shaped the tech landscape."

"IBM's launch of watsonx AI Labs signals a transformative investment in New York's innovation ecosystem. By bringing together world-class engineering talent, emerging startups, and deep enterprise expertise right here in the heart of the city, this initiative strengthens New York's position as a global hub for responsible and cutting-edge AI development," said Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC. "It's a win for our tech sector, communities, workforce, and economy. We're thrilled to see IBM betting big on the extraordinary talent and entrepreneurial spirit that make this city so unique."

The lab seeks to tap into New York City's rich technology landscape by attracting local talent, pursuing collaborations with local universities and research institutions, and supporting local entrepreneurs. Consistent with IBM's long-standing investment in New York State, over the next five years, local startups that successfully launch AI enterprise solutions at the lab will have access to technical experts, mentorship and amplification, as well as potential investment from IBM Ventures and its global $500M Enterprise AI Venture Fund.

"Building a foundational part of watsonx AI Labs allows us to pair our expertise building data agents with IBM's engineering depth to solve clients' toughest AI challenges," said Sarah Nagy, CEO of Seek AI. "We're excited to tackle these challenges here in New York City, where Seek AI was founded and the AI talent and innovation ecosystem is thriving."

watsonx AI Labs will focus on co-creation of domain‑specific AI solutions to solve enterprises' most complex challenges – from customer service and supply‑chain optimization to cybersecurity, responsible AI governance, and open-source AI.

To learn more about participating in the watsonx AI Labs, visit www.ibm.com/products/watsonx-ai-labs.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:

Kevin Zawacki
IBM Software Communications
kevin.zawacki@ibm.com 

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SOURCE IBM

FAQ

What is IBM watsonx AI Labs and where is it located?

IBM watsonx AI Labs is a developer-first innovation hub located at IBM's new offices at One Madison in Manhattan, New York City. It's designed to accelerate AI adoption and development by connecting IBM's enterprise resources with AI developers.

How will IBM support startups through watsonx AI Labs?

IBM will provide local startups with access to technical experts, mentorship, amplification opportunities, and potential investment from IBM Ventures and its global $500M Enterprise AI Venture Fund over the next five years.

What is IBM's acquisition deal with Seek AI?

IBM will acquire expertise and license technology from Seek AI, a NYC-based startup that builds AI agents to harness enterprise data. Seek AI's expertise will serve as a foundational part of watsonx AI Labs.

What are the main focus areas of IBM watsonx AI Labs?

The lab will focus on co-creating domain-specific AI solutions for enterprise challenges, including customer service, supply-chain optimization, cybersecurity, responsible AI governance, and open-source AI.

How large is New York City's AI ecosystem?

NYC has more than 2,000 AI startups, with its AI workforce growing by nearly 25% from 2022 to 2023. Since 2019, over 1,000 AI-related companies in NYC have raised $27 billion in funding.