NEW YORK, June 2, 2025 — IBM (NYSE: IBM) right now introduced watsonx AI Labs, a developer-first hub in New York Metropolis designed for AI builders and AI adoption at scale. watsonx AI Labs connects IBM’s enterprise assets and experience with AI builders constructing AI purposes for enterprise.
Positioned in Manhattan at IBM’s new places of work at One Madison, watsonx AI Labs extends IBM’s community of engineering labs, bringing collectively IBM researchers and engineers in a collaborative hub for co-creating and advancing agentic AI options. The lab will work side-by-side with startups, scale-ups, and enterprises to assist uncover AI worth.
IBM mentioned ew York Metropolis has greater than 2,000 AI startups, and its AI workforce grew by almost 25 p.c from 2022 to 2023, based on Tech:NYC. Since 2019, greater than 1,000 AI-related firms in New York Metropolis have raised $27 billion in funding.
Additionally right now, IBM introduced it’ll purchase experience and license know-how from Search AI, the New York Metropolis-based startup constructing AI brokers that leverage enterprise information. IBM mentioned Search AI will function a foundational a part of watsonx AI Labs.
“This isn’t your typical company lab. watsonx AI Labs is the place the most effective AI builders achieve entry to world-class engineers and assets and construct new companies and purposes that may reshape AI for the enterprise,” mentioned Ritika Gunnar, Common Supervisor, Knowledge & AI, IBM. “By anchoring this mission in New York Metropolis, we’re investing in a various, world‑class expertise pool and a vibrant neighborhood whose improvements have lengthy formed the tech panorama.”
“IBM’s launch of watsonx AI Labs alerts a transformative funding in New York’s innovation ecosystem. By bringing collectively world-class engineering expertise, rising startups, and deep enterprise experience proper right here within the coronary heart of the town, this initiative strengthens New York’s place as a worldwide hub for accountable and cutting-edge AI improvement,” mentioned Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC. “It’s a win for our tech sector, communities, workforce, and economic system. We’re thrilled to see IBM betting massive on the extraordinary expertise and entrepreneurial spirit that make this metropolis so distinctive.”
The lab seeks to faucet into New York Metropolis’s know-how panorama by attracting native expertise, pursuing collaborations with native universities and analysis establishments, and supporting native entrepreneurs. In line with IBM’s long-standing funding in New York State, over the subsequent 5 years, native startups that efficiently launch AI enterprise options on the lab may have entry to technical consultants, mentorship and amplification, in addition to potential funding from IBM Ventures and its international $500M Enterprise AI Enterprise Fund.
“Constructing a foundational a part of watsonx AI Labs permits us to pair our experience constructing information brokers with IBM’s engineering depth to unravel purchasers’ hardest AI challenges,” mentioned Sarah Nagy, CEO of Search AI. “We’re excited to sort out these challenges right here in New York Metropolis, the place Search AI was based and the AI expertise and innovation ecosystem is prospering.”
watsonx AI Labs will deal with co-creation of area‑particular AI options to unravel enterprises’ most advanced challenges – from customer support and provide‑chain optimization to cybersecurity, accountable AI governance, and open-source AI.
