The IBM Z community continues to grow, with an estimated 100K members globally, and 35% of these being new to Z, fueled by innovation, collaboration, and skills development. The newly introduced IBM z17 announced today, presents an opportunity to highlight the role of AI and automation, the strength of the ecosystem, and the importance of standardization in shaping enterprise IT. 

Advancing AI and Automation for Greater Efficiency

AI and automation on IBM Z continue to evolve, helping enterprises streamline operations, accelerate modernization, and improve decision-making. With IBM Spyre Accelerator and IBM Telum II on IBM z17, AI capabilities now extend beyond traditional AI to power more accurate insights, optimize real-time workloads, and enhance overall productivity.

Watsonx Code Assistant for Z accelerates development by automating code comprehension and transformation, allowing developers to more quickly and confidently implement enhancements and new client experiences. AI-driven automation supports application modernization, reduces development time, and ensures seamless IT transitions. AI is not replacing human expertise; it is augmenting it, enabling IT professionals to work more efficiently, clear their backlogs, and tackle complex challenges with confidence.

Beyond development, AI and automation improve system operations. From anomaly detection in real-time transactions to streamlining infrastructure management, AI enables businesses to respond dynamically to operational demands. Watsonx Assistant for Z provides new and experienced administrators with a mentor in their pocket, accelerating skill depth and automating tasks to speed time to delivery. These advancements reinforce the role of AI on IBM Z in helping enterprises remain agile and resilient.

Strengthening and Expanding the Community

A thriving ecosystem is built on people. IBM Z brings together professionals, students, and industry leaders through hands-on learning, mentorship, and collaboration. Learn more about IBM Z's thriving ecosystem of partners, clients, students, early tenure professionals and more on the IBM z17 Ecosystem launch page .

Programs such as IBM Z Xplore , the on-campus Student Ambassador initiative , and the IBM Z Career Connection events provide practical skills and industry connections, ensuring that talent at all levels is inspired and has access to resources needed to build skills and successful careers in enterprise computing. The IBM Z Career Depot then connects employers with badged job seekers and showcases career opportunities to the community. Employers benefit from access to a vibrant community of talent equipped with hands-on training and digital badges. Explore more in the Employer Resource Hub .

The New to Z User Group and Global New to Z chapters bring together early-tenure mainframers digitally and locally, offering mentorship, networking, and skill development opportunities.

The launch of the Mainframe Skills Council brought together clients, partners, and academia to share best practices and develop sustainable talent solutions. This collaboration fosters new ideas, programs, and outreach to build a diverse, skilled workforce capable of driving innovation.

Aligning Talent with Industry Needs

IBM Z provides pathways to help practitioners continue to develop the expertise needed in today’s IT landscape. The Mainframe Skills Depot offers over a thousand hours of structured learning paths with badging aligned to industry roles and needs.

The IBM Z Global Skills Accelerator is a key part of this effort. Combining training, on the job experience, coaching and mentoring, over 140 employers from 35 countries participating in the program have successfully prepared more than 800 employees from diverse backgrounds including career changers, veterans, incumbent employees, and students for roles that support critical enterprise operations. Abbey Lowdermilk, a graduate of the IBM Global Skills Accelerator Program , is now a Development Operations Associate Engineer. She successfully transitioned from the food services industry to a career in mainframe technology through this program. "When I joined as an apprentice, I was fortunate to be hired alongside three other apprentices. It felt like we were embarking on this new journey together," she shares. "We could bounce ideas off each other, ask questions, learn collaboratively, and support one another." 

Many professionals have transitioned into mainframe careers through non-traditional pathways, demonstrating the effectiveness of holistic, structured, industry-aligned training programs. Checkout inspiring narratives from the many professionals that are part of Today’s Architects.

Expanding Innovation Through ISVs in the IBM Z Ecosystem

IBM Z thrives on a strong network of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who enhance the platform with innovative applications and enterprise solutions. Through programs like the IBM Z and LinuxONE Partner Network (ZLPN) , ISVs gain access to systems, development tools, technical validation, and business acceleration resources to integrate and optimize their solutions for IBM Z.

As enterprises adopt AI-driven workloads and modernize applications, ISVs play a critical role in extending IBM Z’s capabilities to support hybrid cloud, automation, and security-focused solutions. Development teams can leverage open frameworks and DevOps practices, ensuring that applications integrate seamlessly across enterprise IT environments.

By fostering collaboration between IBM Z and its ISV ecosystem, organizations gain access to a diverse suite of enterprise-ready applications that enhance performance, security, and scalability. This ecosystem-driven approach empowers businesses to remain dynamic and adaptable while harnessing IBM Z’s industry-leading reliability and innovation. Learn more about IBM Z's thriving ecosystem of partners:  IBM z17 Ecosystem launch page.

Looking Forward 

The z17 launch marks another milestone in innovation, skills development, and community engagement. As IBM Z evolves, so does the opportunity for professionals, students, and industry leaders to connect and shape the future of enterprise computing. Adoption of AI assistants and modern tooling combined with ongoing collaboration across academia, employers, and industry experts ensures that IBM Z remains a leading force in technology advancement and workforce development.

Together, we can inspire, connect, train, and grow, ensuring the continued success of this dynamic ecosystem. The future of enterprise IT depends on strong partnerships, continuous learning, and a commitment to innovation.

To learn more about IBM z17, please click here: ibm.com/products/z17