BUSINESS TECH | IBM completes $11B Confluent acquisition to boost AI data capabilities
IBM said the acquisition addresses a key challenge in deploying AI at scale, as many organizations still rely on fragmented data systems that delay decision-making.
IBM has completed its acquisition of Confluent for about $11 billion, aiming to strengthen real-time data capabilities for enterprise artificial intelligence systems, the company said March 25.
The deal integrates Confluent’s data streaming platform with IBM’s AI and hybrid cloud portfolio, enabling businesses to process and access continuously updated data across on-premises and cloud environments.
IBM said the acquisition addresses a key challenge in deploying AI at scale, as many organizations still rely on fragmented data systems that delay decision-making.
“Transactions happen in milliseconds, and AI decisions need to happen just as fast,” said Rob Thomas, senior vice president, IBM Software, and chief commercial officer. “With Confluent, we are giving clients the ability to move trusted data continuously across their entire operation.”
Confluent, built on Apache Kafka, is used by more than 6,500 enterprises globally, including companies in finance, healthcare, manufacturing and retail.
IBM said the integration includes support for its platforms, such as watsonx.data, IBM MQ, webMethods Hybrid Integration and IBM Z, enabling real-time data streaming for analytics, automation and AI workflows.
The combined platform is designed to allow AI models and automated systems to operate using live data rather than historical datasets, improving responsiveness and operational efficiency.
Industry analyst Sanjeev Mohan said enterprises are increasingly shifting from AI experimentation to production deployment, creating demand for systems that can deliver real-time, governed data across environments.
The acquisition expands IBM’s AI infrastructure strategy, focusing on data integration, governance and real-time processing as organizations scale AI adoption.
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