IBM Unveils FutureNow Centre in Visakhapatnam to Drive Global AI Services
The IBM FutureNow Centre in Visakhapatnam was inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh and IBM India MD Sandip Patel on August 5, 2026. The centre is designed to drive global AI services and focus on AI-first transformation projects and hybrid cloud architectures.
According to IBM executives, the hub will serve a global client base, delivering elite capabilities in generative AI, software engineering, complex data analytics, cybersecurity, and platform engineering. Minister Nara Lokesh framed the facility as a validation of state policy, stating that it is 'a strong endorsement of Visakhapatnam's emergence as a global hub for artificial intelligence, digital services, and technology-led innovation.'
The FutureNow Centre is part of the Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative, an ambitious project backed by the National Quantum Mission (NQM) and the Department of Science and Technology. The state government has also announced plans to host an IBM-2 Quantum Computer with 156 qubits, making it the first indigenous, open-access quantum facility of its kind in South Asia.
IBM is partnering with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and leading academic institutions like the IITs on this project. The state government has also mandated that AI Sandboxes and quantum computing curriculums be instituted in 50 higher educational university campuses across Andhra Pradesh, with IBM training over 900 faculty members to facilitate this transition.