International Business Machines Corporation develops enterprise technology across software, consulting, hardware, hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. News from IBM centers on AI platforms and services, including watsonx, IBM Enterprise Advantage, IBM Consulting Advantage, IBM Sovereign Core, watsonx Orchestrate and Red Hat technologies for hybrid and regulated environments.
Recurring updates also cover IBM Consulting client work, industry and cloud collaborations, research milestones in quantum-centric supercomputing, AI-enabled application experiences, and IBM Institute for Business Value studies on enterprise adoption and governance of AI.
IBM has announced its intention to acquire Turbonomic, a Boston-based software provider specializing in Application Resource Management and Network Performance Management. This strategic move aims to enhance IBM's AI-powered automation capabilities, ensuring effective performance management and cost optimization across hybrid cloud environments. The acquisition complements IBM's earlier purchase of Instana and aligns with its vision to provide comprehensive observability tools powered by Red Hat OpenShift. Financial details were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close in Q2 2021.
IBM has expanded its Watson Advertising Accelerator to include OTT and video advertising. This enhancement leverages artificial intelligence to optimize ad creative dynamically, improving campaign performance without relying on traditional advertising identifiers. In partnership with Xandr, IBM aims to meet the growing demand as streaming households surpass cable. As media budgets shift, Accelerator allows brands to personalize ads at the impression level, significantly enhancing viewer engagement. Initial tests showed a 20% increase in video completion rates, marking a promising advancement in digital advertising.
IBM has announced significant enhancements to its storage portfolio to facilitate improved data access and management across hybrid cloud environments. Key innovations include the upcoming launch of IBM Spectrum Fusion, a container-native software-defined storage solution set for release in the second half of 2021, and updates to its IBM Elastic Storage System with models delivering increased storage capacity and performance. The enhancements aim to streamline data management, reduce compliance risks, and support organizations' expanding edge computing needs.
The IBM board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend increase to $1.64 per common share, payable on June 10, 2021, to stockholders recorded by May 10, 2021. This marks the 26th consecutive year of dividend increases, and IBM has consistently paid dividends since 1916. CEO Arvind Krishna highlighted the company's strong cash generation and commitment to returning capital to shareholders, emphasizing ongoing investments in hybrid cloud and AI technologies.
IBM Watson Health has unveiled its 2021 Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals and 15 Top Health Systems award winners, highlighting top-performing hospitals in the U.S. This year’s rankings integrated community health contributions and equity measures alongside clinical outcomes and operational efficiency metrics. The evaluated hospitals demonstrated improved performance indicators, potentially saving over 79,000 lives and $10.1 billion in costs when applied to all Medicare inpatients. The assessments were based on publicly available data from various Medicare and health organizations.
IBM has partnered with HCL Technologies to enhance clients' threat management through a modernized security operation center platform. This collaboration utilizes IBM's Cloud Pak for Security to create a unified security system that integrates tools and processes across the threat lifecycle. HCL's Cybersecurity Fusion Centers will leverage this collaboration, improving security operations for clients globally.
The partnership aims to combat complex security challenges in hybrid cloud environments, driving better security outcomes for enterprises.
Summary not available.
IBM is collaborating with Parle Products, India's largest biscuit brand, to leverage IBM Cloud for faster product market entry. This partnership aims to enhance Parle’s operational efficiencies, speed up innovation, and strengthen security amidst ongoing supply chain challenges. By migrating to a hybrid cloud setup and utilizing AI capabilities, Parle expects to improve productivity and streamline processes across various business functions. The initiative is anticipated to enhance Parle’s ability to respond to consumer demands, fostering business growth in India and beyond.
IBM has announced new capabilities for IBM Watson to help businesses develop trustworthy AI. Key features include new data privacy management tools, enhanced explainability for forecasting, and federated learning capabilities. This move addresses concerns from an IBM-commissioned survey indicating that 84% of AI professionals value transparency in AI data usage. As a leader in AI innovation, IBM continues to enhance its tools to help organizations meet compliance and mitigate risks associated with AI technologies.
Saudi Payments, supervised by the Saudi Central Bank, launched the 'sarie' instant payments system in collaboration with IBM and Mastercard. This initiative enhances Saudi Arabia's financial ecosystem, supporting all banks in the Kingdom. The system accommodates transactions up to SAR 20,000 (USD 5,300) and promotes financial inclusion under Saudi Vision 2030's goal of 70% non-cash transactions by 2030. IBM GBS led the project as the system integrator, marking a significant advance in digital payments innovation.