In the past year, artificial intelligence has undergone a seismic shift in terms of the developments and adoption around it. The most significant transformation has occurred with the emergence of generative AI. This has become prevalent across a spectrum of applications, ranging from the creation of text and images to the intricate realms of protein folding and computational chemistry. In just over a year, its meteoric rise has not only captivated industries but promises to redefine the very fabric of how businesses innovate, communicate, and evolve in the digital era.
As technology advances, it comes as no surprise that major players, including industry leaders like IBM, are at the forefront, diligently crafting a diverse array of products and solutions. They are curating innovations that are poised to empower organisations to seize the full spectrum of opportunities presented by AI with unwavering confidence and capability.
With the aim to establish a significant presence in that domain, IBM has launched watsonx, an enterprise-ready AI and data platform. Watsonx empowers clients to tailor and deploy models for diverse enterprise applications or construct custom solutions. The platform encompasses three products: watsonx.ai, watsonx.data, and watsonx.governance.
“Watsonx is an enterprise AI application platform created to help companies seize opportunities and solve challenges with AI,” Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications and Chief Communications Officer, IBM, tells edge.
He explains, “We’re initially focused on two use cases: customer care and coding around digital labour. Watsonx has three key components. The first is watsonx.data, emphasising the importance of organising data for effective AI. The second is watsonx.ai, which covers AI models, both proprietary and open source. The last component is watsonx.governance, which involves monitoring AI for fairness, drift and bias, ensuring it aligns with intended goals and interacts appropriately with other AI systems.”
Delving into the motivations behind the launch of watsonx, Adashek explains that the platform was crafted specifically for enterprise requirements as IBM Watsonx transforms clients from mere users into AI-advantaged entities. “With Watsonx, clients gain the ability to swiftly train and deploy tailored AI capabilities across their entire business, all the while maintaining complete control over their data,” he says.
Furthermore, he reveals that with hybrid cloud through Red Hat and AI via watsonx, IBM aims to deliver a comprehensive set of solutions, including software, hardware, and consulting for customers. “Building deep client relationships has highlighted the need for innovative AI solutions, leading to the development of watsonx,” he says.
Earlier this month, IBM announced that watsonx.governance is set to be universally accessible in early December. The solution aims to assist businesses in embracing AI models and dispelling the myths surrounding the data inputs and resulting outputs.
“Understanding AI regulations is crucial, and we advocate for smart regulations tailored to specific AI use cases. Accountability is essential, fostering innovation while ensuring responsible AI use. We believe in use-case-specific regulations, holding individuals accountable for their AI applications while driving innovation in the broader AI landscape,” says Adashek.
Watsonx.governance serves as a comprehensive solution for businesses grappling with the deployment and management of both Large Language Models (LLM) and Machine Learning (ML) models. It equips businesses with essential tools to automate AI governance processes, monitor models, and initiate corrective actions, enhancing overall visibility. As global AI regulations continue to evolve, its capability to translate these regulations into enforceable policies becomes increasingly vital for enterprises.
“As a 111-year-old company, our innovations are guided by IBM’s foundational principles of trust and ethics,” says Adashek. “For watsonx.governance, we apply these principles to monitor for bias and drift, ensuring responsible and ethical AI use. Our approach mirrors the successful internal use of AI for business decisions, and we believe that it’s going to be beneficial for our clients. And there’s a strong interest from clients on what’s the next step governance.”
IBM’s commitment to responsible AI is evident in its emphasis on open innovation and collaboration. Adashek states, “IBM fosters open innovation to help clients deploy AI transparently and responsibly. Our consultants have deep skills in establishing organisational culture and accountability, AI ethics boards, training, regulatory and risk management, and mitigating cybersecurity threats.”
With watsonx.governance, IBM continues to empower organisations with the tools they need to govern, manage risks, and comply with regulations. Adashek says, “Our focus is on creating AI solutions tailored to a client’s data, solving specific problems, and leveraging opportunities. The key is on augmenting human capabilities, not replacing them, to add more value across diverse sectors.”
