IBM has expanded its collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deepen their focus on generative AI solutions. The initiative aims to empower businesses in the Middle East with innovative AI capabilities.
As part of the expanded partnership, IBM Consulting is set to enhance its generative AI expertise on AWS by training 10,000 consultants by the end of 2024. The objective is to provide clients with cutting-edge solutions and services that seamlessly integrate generative AI into their business and IT operations on the AWS platform.
The GITEX Global 2023 showcased the Middle East’s commitment to technology and innovation, with a particular emphasis on the potential of generative AI to drive transformation and boost productivity in the region. According to a recent IBM report, titled “CEO Decision-Making in the Age of AI,” 43% of CEOs in the Middle East are already leveraging generative AI for strategic decision-making.
IBM Consulting and AWS are collaborating to deliver enhanced joint solutions and services, integrating advanced generative AI capabilities to address critical use cases. Notable solutions in this partnership include the Contact Centre Modernisation with Amazon Connect, where IBM Consulting and AWS have jointly developed summarisation and categorisation functions for voice and digital interactions. These generative AI features facilitate smooth transitions between chatbots and live agents, providing agents with summarised details to expedite issue resolution and improve quality management.
The collaboration extends to Platform Services on AWS, introducing generative AI capabilities to improve business serviceability and availability for applications hosted on the AWS platform. This encompasses intelligent issue resolution and observability techniques, resulting in heightened uptime and mean time repair, ensuring swift and effective responses to potential issues. Furthermore, a planned offering called Supply Chain Ensemble on AWS is in the works, aiming to introduce a virtual assistant that will accelerate and enhance the work of supply chain professionals, optimising processes, reducing costs, streamlining logistics, and assessing supply chain risks.
Additionally, for clients looking to modernise on AWS, IBM Consulting plans to integrate AWS generative AI services into its proprietary IBM Consulting Cloud Accelerator, streamlining the cloud transformation process.
IBM has already demonstrated expertise with AWS’s generative AI services, including Amazon SageMaker and Amazon CodeWhisperer. The company is committed to training and skilling 10,000 consultants on AWS generative AI services by the end of 2024. The training initiative includes an exclusive, partner-only program providing insights into top use cases and best practices for client engagement with AWS generative AI services.
Yasser Hassan, Head of AWS in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, emphasised the significance of the strengthened partnership in bringing advanced AI capabilities to businesses in the Middle East. The joint solutions, including Contact Centre Modernisation and Platform Services on AWS, showcase the commitment to delivering value and innovation.
IBM is also responding to client demand by making watsonx.data, a fit-for-purpose data store, available on AWS as a fully managed software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, accessible through AWS Marketplace. The company plans to make watsonx.ai and watsonx.governance available on AWS by 2024, making it easier for clients to consume IBM data, AI, and security software on AWS.
