IBM z17: The Age of AI on The Mainframe Has Arrived. Are You Ready to Meet It?

So, has it happened yet? Have your leaders asked how you plan to leverage AI to enhance the applications or utilize the data that’s on your mainframe? If not, it may not be long before they ask you what’s possible.

Fortunately, with the IBM z17, a whole lot could be possible. The IBM z17 is set to revolutionize the way organizations leverage artificial intelligence. Starting with the hardware, with the Tellum II chip boosting ML inferencing throughput by 40%, and the all-new IBM Spyre chip designed specifically for generative AI models, the newest generation of the Z Platform offers ground-breaking approaches to mixed-mode AI innovation, right next to the customer data and operational data originating on mainframe. Further, AI permeates the operating system, the core transactional and database systems, and the end-user facilities to interact with the platform.

Let’s explore some of the benefits offered by the z17

Process massive amounts of mainframe data on the mainframe

One of the key advantages of the mainframe is its ability to keep customer data securely on the mainframe. Traditionally, businesses have tended to move data off the mainframe for processing, and this can carry inefficiencies and increased risks. With the z17 processing power for machine-learning and now generative AI use cases, you can process vast amounts customer and operational data where it originates, giving you faster, more processing-efficient value generated from your data than ever before. As a result, the z17 platform offers organizations new art of the possible as they look to optimize their data and AI strategies in service of their customers and their business.

Move the needle on sustainability

The IBM z17 is not just about cutting-edge hardware and software capabilities. It’s also about sustainability. The platform’s energy-efficient design, including the Spyre chip that operates at just 75 watts, significantly reduces the environmental footprint of AI operations and mission-critical workloads.

Depending on the AI use cases for the organization, executing AI models could reduce reliance on external data processing centers, which can substantially optimize cooling and power resources.  Lowering data center costs and supporting corporate sustainability goals is a compelling value proposition.

And transform the way you serve customers, citizens, patients

The AI capabilities of the IBM z17 platform can help financial institutions, insurers, and retail anticipate customer needs, deliver tailored recommendations, and automate workflows. They can also be used to detect suspicious activities, enhance risk management, improve investment strategies, and streamline payment and supply chain processing.

Government agencies can leverage the z17 to enhance their data processing capabilities, improve cybersecurity, prevent fraud, and automate human-intensive processes. AI applications can aid decision-making, policy development, and public service delivery.

In healthcare, the platform can enable more accurate diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and efficient patient management. AI-driven analytics could help identify patterns in patient data, leading to better disease prediction and prevention.

And, across all industries, the platform’s AI capabilities allow for real-time analysis, decision-making and transactions, enabling organizations to respond quickly to market changes and customer inquiries.  

Time to future-proof your mainframe applications

When mainframe workloads are critical to your business, you need to keep them in good shape and that has consistently featured among the top challenges for application owners, CTOs, and CIOs. With the operating system and LLM-based capabilities on IBM Z, legacy mainframe applications can now be explained, renovated, tested, enhanced and deployed in ways not achievable before.

However, it can understandably be challenging to know how or where to get started, and how to operate the technology stack.

Ensono’s Mainframe Application Managed Services (AMS) are designed to do this and more. It includes comprehensive application support, development, maintenance and testing, as well as code promotion and DBA services. The services are composed with a high degree of flexibility because that truly matters.

Our team of mainframe experts are ready to help you reduce risk, enhance performance and security, and future-proof your mainframe to unlock real value for your business.

Are you ready to be what’s next?

As an IBM Platinum Partner, Ensono has had the inside seat on the IBM z17 launch. We know how to adopt it and take full advantage of everything it has to offer.