IBM and OpenAI are joining forces to take artificial intelligence deeper into the corporate world, as competition for enterprise AI spending continues to intensify. IBM announced the partnership on Thursday, August 13, saying the agreement will give more businesses access to OpenAI’s models and tools through IBM’s global consulting network. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Under the partnership, IBM will establish a dedicated OpenAI practice within IBM Consulting and train and certify tens of thousands of consultants on OpenAI technologies over the coming months. The training will cover tools including Codex, OpenAI’s API and cybersecurity solutions, while a specialised team of “Forward Deployed Experts” will also be developed to help businesses apply the technology to real-world operations.
IBM and OpenAI will jointly market AI solutions and develop industry-specific applications for sectors such as financial services, government, telecommunications and retail. IBM also plans to integrate OpenAI’s latest models, including GPT-5.6, Codex and ChatGPT Work, into IBM Consulting Advantage, its AI platform designed to help consultants deliver AI-powered solutions to clients.
For OpenAI, the partnership provides another powerful route into some of the world’s biggest companies through IBM’s established consulting operation. The AI company has increasingly relied on technology and consulting partners to expand its enterprise business, following similar collaborations with major IT service providers such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services. The strategy reflects a broader shift in the AI industry, where winning large corporate deployments is becoming just as important as developing increasingly capable models.
The deal also fits IBM’s strategy of offering businesses access to multiple AI models rather than relying on a single provider. Alongside OpenAI’s technology, IBM continues to develop its own Granite AI models and position its watsonx platform and consulting business as an AI integration hub. The partnership comes as IBM seeks to accelerate growth in its AI business after recently lowering its 2026 revenue forecast. The two companies had already worked together on cybersecurity through the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program announced in June, but the latest agreement significantly broadens their collaboration across enterprise operations.
source: techcrunch
