New AI initiative will co-create gen AI solutions with IBM clients, nurture NYC talent, advance enterprise AI implementations.
IBM announced watsonx AI Labs, a new, developer-first innovation hub in New York City, designed to supercharge AI builders and accelerate AI adoption at scale. watsonx AI Labs connects IBM’s enterprise resources and expertise with the next generation of AI developers in order to build breakthrough AI applications for business.
Located in the heart of Manhattan at IBM’s new offices at One Madison, watsonx AI Labs extends IBM’s global network of engineering labs, bringing together IBM researchers and engineers in a collaborative hub dedicated to co-creating and advancing meaningful, agentic AI solutions. The lab will work side-by-side with startups, scale-ups, and the world’s largest enterprises to help clients unlock real-world value from their AI.
The lab benefits from – and helps fuel – New York City’s status as a global AI hub. New York City has more than 2,000 AI startups, and its AI workforce grew by nearly 25% from 2022 to 2023, according to Tech:NYC. Since 2019, more than 1,000 AI-related companies in New York City have raised $27 billion in funding.
Also today, continuing its commitment to the local startup ecosystem, IBM announced it will acquire expertise and license technology from Seek AI, the New York City-based startup building AI agents to harness enterprise data. Seek AI helps businesses leverage agentic AI to mine value from enterprise data, and their expertise will serve as a foundational part of watsonx AI Labs.
The lab seeks to tap into New York City’s rich technology landscape by attracting local talent, pursuing collaborations with local universities and research institutions, and supporting local entrepreneurs. Consistent with IBM’s long-standing investment in New York State, over the next five years, local startups that successfully launch AI enterprise solutions at the lab will have access to technical experts, mentorship and amplification, as well as potential investment from IBM Ventures and its global $500M Enterprise AI Venture Fund.
watsonx AI Labs will focus on co-creation of domain‑specific AI solutions to solve enterprises’ most complex challenges – from customer service and supply‑chain optimization to cybersecurity, responsible AI governance, and open-source AI.
For more information, visit ibm.com/products/watsonx-ai-labs.
