Riyadh: IBM (NYSE: IBM) has officially introduced the IBM z17, the company’s most advanced mainframe to date, engineered specifically for the AI era.
With integrated capabilities supporting large language models and generative AI, the z17 aims to revolutionize enterprise-scale artificial intelligence operations.
Powered by the second-generation IBM Telum® II processor, the z17 significantly enhances AI inferencing power delivering up to 50% more daily AI inference operations than its predecessor, the z16.
This new generation mainframe is designed to support over 250 industry use cases, including fraud prevention, medical imaging, and retail crime mitigation.
The z17 system is the result of a five-year R&D effort involving over 100 clients and more than 300 patent filings. It introduces several key innovations.
AI Built Into the Chip, The Telum® II processor includes an integrated AI accelerator with 40% more cache, enabling over 450 billion inference operations per day with millisecond response times.
Spyre™ Accelerator, Expected later in 2025, this PCIe card will extend the AI capabilities of z17, particularly in generative AI tasks like digital assistants and chatbot management.
AI-Enhanced Operations, The z17 incorporates AI agents and assistants such as IBM watsonx xCode Assistant for Z and watsonx Assistant for Z to streamline developer tasks and improve IT operations.
These tools will be integrated with Z Operations Unite for real-time incident detection and resolution through AI-driven chat interfaces.
Fahad Alanazi, General Manager of IBM Saudi Arabia, emphasized the strategic importance of the launch: “The industry is quickly learning that AI is only as effective as the infrastructure supporting it. With the z17, we’re embedding AI into the heart of enterprise operations.”
The IBM z17 reimagines enterprise IT infrastructure by combining AI, security, and scalability, marking a pivotal step in IBM’s vision to operationalize AI at the core of digital transformation.
