Open-Source AI Strategy for IBM Z/LinuxONE Platforms
Client:
IBM
Project Date:
Winter 2020
Objectives:
Formulate and execute an open-source AI strategy to enable advanced AI capabilities on IBM's Z and LinuxONE platforms in preparation for the AI-driven IBM z16 product development cycle, catering to large enterprise financial sector and healthcare clients and partners.
Situation & Tasks:
As AI technologies became more pervasive and enterprises increasingly sought open-source solutions for flexibility and scalability, IBM identified a gap in its offerings for the Z/LinuxONE platforms. The challenge lay in crafting an open-source AI strategy that would integrate seamlessly with the unique architecture and strengths of the IBM mainframe platforms, while also ensuring the solutions were aligned with market demands and trends.
Actions:
Conducted extensive market research to gauge the demand and understand the unique needs of businesses using the Z/LinuxONE platforms.
Identified 20+ candidates for ope source machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) AI frameworks along with market trends, key use cases, and ease of adoption.
Engaged in strategic collaborations with diverse stakeholders, including platform architects, software engineers, AI specialists, and key clients to gain comprehensive insights.
Championed the AI Kits GTM initiative, which aimed to bundle specific hardware-software packages to optimize AI capabilities within targeted clients.
Pioneered the introduction and integration of TensorFlow's ML/DL framework as a container for the Z/LinuxONE platforms, ensuring it was optimized for performance and seamless deployment.
Continuously monitored the adoption rates, gathering feedback, and addressing roadblocks in route-to-market strategies, refining the offerings to better align with customer needs.
Results:
Achieved the successful deployment and optimization of the TensorFlow ML/DL framework container along with other frameworks tailored for the Z/LinuxONE platforms. This strategic move not only solidified IBM's access and availability in the open-source AI market for its enterprise platforms but also set the stage for a projected increase in AI adoption and training by over 50% and positioned the IBM z16, a mainframe platform focused on AI acceleration, launch for success and opportunities in following years.
