IBM Creates Groundbreaking Dual-Architecture Chip with Arm Holdings

IBM is developing a new dual-architecture chip in partnership with Arm Holdings to run both z/OS and Arm-native Linux workloads simultaneously on the same core. This marks the first time that has been done, bringing Arm's massive software ecosystem into IBM's ultra-reliable enterprise computing infrastructure. The initial goal of the partnership was to bring 'cloud-like flexibility to highly regulated environments' by allowing enterprises to run AI and other data-intensive workloads on sensitive data stored in on-premises systems rather than the cloud.

The new chip will have a single, unified architecture, eliminating the need for virtualization or emulation. It will be built on an advanced two-nanometer process node and feature 11 high-performance cores running at speeds of 5.7 gigahertz per second. The chip will also include AI inference accelerators to handle real-time fraud detection in financial transactions.

IBM's Chief Technology Officer and Fellow Christian Jacobi said that enterprises need infrastructure solutions that expand their options, combining access to one of the industry's fastest-growing software ecosystems with the qualities that have made IBM systems the foundation for how businesses run. The new chip is expected to enable a fresh wave of AI adoption by companies in highly regulated industries.