IBM has intensified its pursuit of growth in the competitive artificial intelligence (AI) sector by launching a new set of tools designed to help enterprises deploy and manage their own fleets of AI-powered agents. The company unveiled these advancements on Tuesday, aligning the announcement with its annual Think conference.
Chief Executive Officer Arvind Krishna, in a recent interview, said IBM sees a major opportunity in offering integration software that allows businesses to streamline AI agents sourced from various technology providers—including Salesforce, Workday, and Adobe—into a unified operational framework. The tools also enable users to quickly develop customized agents tailored to specific needs within their organizations, all powered by IBM’s proprietary and third-party AI models.
IBM Focuses on Seamless AI Integration and Custom Agent Creation
Krishna emphasized that the key to IBM’s strategy lies in its ability to meet clients “where they are” by offering adaptable solutions that integrate easily with existing infrastructure. Rather than forcing customers to adopt a single ecosystem, IBM wants to serve as the connective tissue across multiple AI platforms.
IBM’s newly launched agent creation tools are designed to dramatically cut down development time. The company claims that customers can create functional AI agents in under five minutes. These agents can be built using IBM’s own Granite family of foundation models or alternative models from Meta Platforms and French AI startup Mistral, offering users flexibility and model diversity.
According to Krishna, businesses are increasingly showing interest in employing different AI models for different functions, a trend that benefits IBM’s modular and integration-centric approach. He noted that IBM has already established a $6 billion “book of business” focused on generative AI technologies similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, indicating a strong foundation upon which the company hopes to expand.
Hybrid Cloud and Infrastructure Strategy Powers IBM’s Differentiation
Although IBM does not match the scale of cloud giants like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure, the company continues to focus on customers with hybrid needs—those who operate across multiple cloud providers or maintain their own private data infrastructure. Krishna believes this hybrid cloud orientation positions IBM uniquely to serve enterprises seeking flexibility and control in their AI implementations.
“All of these capabilities will only accelerate that rate of growth,” Krishna said, referencing the expected boost from IBM’s latest offerings. By catering to diverse infrastructure setups, IBM aims to make its AI tools more attractive to industries with strict data governance or regulatory requirements.
$150 Billion Investment in U.S. Manufacturing and Emerging Tech
IBM’s push in AI coincides with a broader investment plan in the United States. In April, the company announced its intention to invest $150 billion over the next five years to strengthen its footprint in critical technologies like mainframe computing, quantum systems, and artificial intelligence. The initiative will expand IBM’s manufacturing base in the U.S., a country where it has built mainframe computers for over six decades.
The investment also includes building quantum computers domestically, positioning IBM at the intersection of three transformative technologies. Krishna believes that the convergence of mainframe computing, AI, and quantum technologies represents a high-growth frontier, and he intends for IBM to lead the charge.
Regulatory Environment and Growth Outlook
Looking ahead, Krishna expressed confidence in the economic environment under the influence of deregulatory policies. He pointed out that the reduction of regulatory burdens under the administration of President Donald Trump has set a favorable foundation for growth, especially in high-tech sectors. While not explicitly linked to current policy shifts, Krishna implied that a business-friendly regulatory landscape could further boost innovation and investment in emerging technologies.
In summary, IBM’s latest AI tools and long-term investment strategy represent a concerted effort to reposition the company as a central player in the next wave of digital transformation. With its focus on integration, rapid deployment, and infrastructure flexibility, IBM hopes to capture a larger share of the growing enterprise AI market—setting the stage for what could be a pivotal chapter in its more than century-long history.
