IBM Launches watsonx AI Labs in NYC

Slice of Technology Team

Jun 04, 2025

Key highlights

IBM opens watsonx AI Labs at One Madison, NYC
Focus on co-creating enterprise AI solutions with startups and enterprises
Licensing tech and expertise from NYC-based Seek AI
Backed by IBM Ventures’ $500M Enterprise AI Fund
Reinforces NYC’s position as a global AI innovation hub

Notable Quotes

“ This isn't your typical corporate lab. watsonx AI Labs is where the best AI developers gain access to world-class engineers and resources and build new businesses and applications that will reshape AI for the enterprise. ”

Ritika Gunnar, General Manager, Data & AI at IBM

“ IBM's launch of watsonx AI Labs signals a transformative investment in New York's innovation ecosystem. ”

Julie Samuels, President and CEO at Tech:NYC

“ Building a foundational part of watsonx AI Labs allows us to pair our expertise building data agents with IBM's engineering depth to solve clients' toughest AI challenges. ”

Sarah Nagy, CEO at Seek AI

Why This Matters

IBM’s launch of watsonx AI Labs represents a strategic investment in the future of enterprise AI. By embedding the lab in New York City—already a burgeoning AI hub—the initiative aims to bridge innovative startups with IBM’s enterprise-grade resources. This collaboration is poised to accelerate development of domain-specific AI applications, strengthening NYC’s tech landscape and IBM’s position at the forefront of AI advancement.

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