IBM Think 2025: Where Business Strategy Meets Cutting-Edge Technology

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The future of business technology isn't some distant horizon - it's unfolding right now in Boston at IBM Think 2025. 

Our latest AI generated episode cuts through the hype to deliver the essential insights from digital transformation strategist Kieran Gilmurray's perspective on why this conference demands attention.

TLDR:

• IBM Partner Plus Day offers exclusive networking opportunities and actionable insights for growth
• The IBM Partner Zone facilitates strategic alliances that provide lasting competitive advantages
• Agentic AI is positioned as a current reality rather than future technology
• IBM Watson X Orchestrate sessions will demonstrate how AI agents enhance business workflows
• Real-world demonstrations from brands like Ferrari, HP, and UFC showcase practical applications
• Diverse speakers include IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
• Global networking opportunities connect over 5,000 professionals from more than 90 countries

Partner Plus Day:  The best ecosystem in tech. New partnerships. Big ideas. We begin by exploring the unique value of IBM's Partner Plus Day, where exclusive networking transcends typical conference interactions to forge strategic alliances with lasting competitive advantages. These connections aren't merely transactional—they're transformational, with regional discussions bringing together local expertise and global vision to address market-specific challenges.

Agentic AI is here:  2025 is the year AI teammates go mainstream and start driving businesses.  The technological heart of the conference beats with agentic AI—not as theoretical potential but as present reality. Gilmurray boldly declares 2025 may be "the year of AI agents," marking a pivotal shift from last year's focus on language models to practical AI implementations that enhance business workflows today. Equally crucial is the emphasis on data quality governance as the foundation for superior decision-making, paired with automation and hybrid cloud strategies that enable genuine business scaling.

Main stage mindset shifts and tech in action:  Real-world implementations from brands like Ferrari, HP, and UFC offer tangible proof of technology's impact, while an unexpected speaker line-up featuring both tech leaders and global figures like former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promises multidimensional perspectives on leadership in the digital age. With over 5,000 attendees from more than 90 countries, the networking potential extends far beyond business cards to strategic connections that could shape your organization's future direction.

IBM Think 2025 

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to IBM Think 2025
• 0:47 IBM Partner Plus Day Benefits
• 2:51 Agentic AI and Data Strategy
• 4:35 Tech in Action and Speakers
• 6:18 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Transcript

AI Speaker One: 0:00

Okay, let's get started. We're taking a look ahead, getting a glimpse into what's next in business and tech.

AI Speaker Two: 0:06

That's right. All eyes are kind of turning towards Boston for IBM Think 2025.

AI Speaker One: 0:11

And our way into this is an article by Kieran Gilmery, who's a digital transformation strategist.

AI Speaker Two: 0:17

Yeah, his piece. Ibm Think 2025, boston. Why I Am Counting Down the Days. It really sets the stage. You can feel the anticipation.

AI Speaker One: 0:26

He advises some big names, so if he's counting down the days, it probably signals something important, right?

AI Speaker Two: 0:30

Absolutely so. For this deep dive, we'll pull out the key insights from his article, give you a clear picture of why this conference is well buzzing.

AI Speaker One: 0:39

Without getting lost in. You know every single detail.

AI Speaker Two: 0:42

Exactly A shortcut to understanding the main takeaways and maybe some potential business advantages.

AI Speaker One: 0:47

Okay, so Gilmourie kicks things off talking about IBM Business Partner Plus Day. This isn't the main conference itself.

AI Speaker Two: 0:53

No, not exactly. It's specifically for IBM's partners. Think of it like a focused event just for their ecosystem.

AI Speaker One: 1:00

Right, and what's the core idea there?

AI Speaker Two: 1:02

It's about exclusive networking, getting actionable insights, things partners can actually use for real world growth.

AI Speaker One: 1:08

So connecting with IBM experts, getting early info on things like Gen AI.

AI Speaker Two: 1:14

Yes, generative AI, agentic AI to cloud automation. It's about finding new business opportunities for their clients.

AI Speaker One: 1:22

Makes sense. He mentions the IBM Partner Zone. What's special about that?

AI Speaker Two: 1:27

Gilmoury sees it as more than just like a meeting spot. It's where you build strategic alliances.

AI Speaker One: 1:31

Okay, so lasting relationships.

AI Speaker Two: 1:33

Exactly with IBM, but also with other partners. He frames it as a real competitive edge, something that lasts beyond the event.

AI Speaker One: 1:41

And what about the regional discussions he mentions?

AI Speaker Two: 1:43

Ah yeah, those sound quite valuable. They seem to focus on the specific challenges and trends in different geographical areas. So getting down to the local level, Precisely Bringing together local leaders and global experts, for, you know, insider perspectives Gilmoury really values that kind of localized intelligence.

AI Speaker One: 2:00

Peer-to-peer sharing, sparking relevant ideas for specific markets.

AI Speaker Two: 2:04

Spot on. It's that practical, tailored insight.

AI Speaker One: 2:07

It sounds very grounded. He also mentions awards, the IBM Partner Plus Awards.

AI Speaker Two: 2:12

Right, it's not all business strategy, it's also celebration Recognizing innovation within that partner network.

AI Speaker One: 2:19

And Gilmoury was involved in judging, wasn't he?

AI Speaker Two: 2:21

He was yeah, which kind of underlines how seriously IBM takes these partnerships.

AI Speaker One: 2:25

Yeah.

AI Speaker Two: 2:26

But beyond the awards, the main point is that the whole day is set up for meaningful conversations.

AI Speaker One: 2:31

Conversations that could actually lead to business deals.

AI Speaker Two: 2:33

That's the goal. Yes, Tangible opportunities.

AI Speaker One: 2:36

Okay, so Partner Plus Day is clearly important for that IBM network. Let's shift to the main event, IBM Think 2025 itself. What themes jumped out at Gilmoury?

AI Speaker Two: 2:51

He starts with agentic AI. Yeah, and this is interesting he's quite emphatic that agentic AI isn't some far off thing.

AI Speaker One: 2:55

It's here now Really. So not just hype.

AI Speaker Two: 2:56

Apparently not. According to him. He points to the IBM Watson X orchestrate sessions, that's IBM's platform for building and managing these AI agents.

AI Speaker One: 3:05

And what can attendees expect to see there?

AI Speaker Two: 3:07

How these agents can actually enhance business workflows. He's talking about productivity gains, more innovation, better efficiency.

AI Speaker One: 3:14

So moving beyond just the large language models everyone focused on last year.

AI Speaker Two: 3:18

Exactly. He suggests 2025 might be quote the year of AI agents. Yeah, a definite shift.

AI Speaker One: 3:25

Okay, that's a bold claim. What else he mentions? Smarter data, smarter decisions. Yeah, seems fundamental.

AI Speaker Two: 3:31

It is, but he drills down a bit. It's not just having data, it's the quality and the governance of that data.

AI Speaker One: 3:37

Ah right, Garbage in, garbage out.

AI Speaker Two: 3:39

Essentially, Pretty much. Better data quality and governance lead to genuinely better decisions and, you know, better business outcomes. He flags a session with David Feesbach on this.

AI Speaker One: 3:49

So data as a strategic imperative and not just a technical detail.

AI Speaker Two: 3:52

That's the core insight, yeah.

AI Speaker One: 3:54

Got it. Then he groups unlocking automation plus cloud power. How do those fit together?

AI Speaker Two: 4:00

He sees them as essential for scaling up. Automation and hybrid cloud aren't just nice to have, they're engines for growth and agility.

AI Speaker One: 4:08

And any specific sessions he highlights there.

AI Speaker Two: 4:11

One called Accelerate Time to Value. In AI. It sounds like it focuses on practical stuff.

AI Speaker One: 4:15

Like what.

AI Speaker Two: 4:16

Strategies for efficiency, keeping data secure in a hybrid cloud setup and actually getting real value from AI quickly, not just experimenting forever.

AI Speaker One: 4:25

That sounds very practical, very focused on application, which ties into his next point maybe Tech in action, real brands, real demos, real value.

AI Speaker Two: 4:34

Exactly this is about seeing it work. The Think Forum, he says, is where you get hands-on demos from brands like Scuderia, Ferrari, HP. Ferrari, okay, yeah and UFC, the US Open too, Big names using the tech. And the point isn't just cool demos, it's about understanding how they achieve operational excellence and peak performance using this technology. Practical insights from real-world applications.

AI Speaker One: 4:58

Seeing the tangible impact. Okay, he also talks about the speakers, the inspirational, visionary leaders who caught his eye.

AI Speaker Two: 5:04

Well, it's an interesting mix. Arvind Krishna, obviously IBM's CEO.

AI Speaker One: 5:08

Makes sense.

AI Speaker Two: 5:08

But also Dame Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand.

AI Speaker One: 5:11

Oh okay, that's less expected at a tech conference.

AI Speaker Two: 5:14

Right and Frederic Vasseur from Scuderia for our HP. It's a diverse lineup.

AI Speaker One: 5:19

So what's the value Gilmary sees in that mix?

AI Speaker Two: 5:22

He thinks their real-world experience in leadership, innovation, dealing with technology's impact globally will offer more than just inspiration. He expects genuinely actionable insights.

AI Speaker One: 5:34

Different angles on leadership and tech's role. Finally, networking Exceptional networking opportunities Seems standard for a big conference, but what's his take?

AI Speaker Two: 5:43

It's the scale and the global reach that impresses him. Over 5,000 people from more than 90 countries expected.

AI Speaker One: 5:50

That's a lot of potential connections.

AI Speaker Two: 5:52

Huge. He sees it as a unique chance to expand his network, swap ideas, maybe start collaborations with people from all over the world.

AI Speaker One: 5:59

And he connects this directly back to his own business strategy.

AI Speaker Two: 6:02

Explicitly yes, he says these connections and insights will directly inform his company's strategic direction. So it's strategic networking, not just collecting business cards.

AI Speaker One: 6:11

OK, let's try to wrap this up Summarizing our deep dive into Gilmour's perspective on IBM Think 2025. It looks like a pretty packed event.

AI Speaker Two: 6:20

Definitely You've got the dedicated Partner Plus Day focused on the ecosystem collaboration growth.

AI Speaker One: 6:25

Right, and then the main conference covering these big themes Identic AI being presented as now, not next.

AI Speaker Two: 6:32

The critical role of data quality and governance Essential stuff.

AI Speaker One: 6:36

The power pairing of automation and cloud for scaling businesses.

AI Speaker Two: 6:40

Seeing tech in action with real brands, real demos.

AI Speaker One: 6:44

Getting those broader leadership perspectives from well. Some unexpected voices alongside the tech leaders.

AI Speaker Two: 6:50

And, of course, those significant global networking opportunities.

AI Speaker One: 6:53

Kilmary's excitement really highlights the potential there, both for immediate insights and those longer term strategic connections.

AI Speaker Two: 7:01

Exactly so for you listening, this gives a pretty good snapshot of some key conversations happening right at that intersection of business and technology.

AI Speaker One: 7:10

Yeah, if you're trying to stay ahead or just understand the trends shaping the future, keeping tabs on what emerges from IBM, think 2025 seems worthwhile.

AI Speaker Two: 7:18

Gilmoury's article certainly makes a strong case for its relevance.

AI Speaker One: 7:21

And this deep dive hopefully gives you that solid foundation, that context for why it's generating buzz. You can find the link to the IBM Think 2025 site in the source material.

AI Speaker Two: 7:31

if you want to dig deeper yourself, which brings us to maybe a final thought for you to chew on.

AI Speaker One: 7:35

Yeah.

AI Speaker Two: 7:36

In a world where tech is moving this fast? What are you doing proactively? How are you engaging with these kinds of events or insights to make sure you're not just reacting but actually understanding and maybe even shaping what comes next for you or your work?