IBM and OpenAI have formed a strategic partnership focused on deploying artificial intelligence across core enterprise operations, application development and cybersecurity.
The partnership will embed OpenAI models including GPT-5.6 and products including Codex and ChatGPT Work into IBM Consulting Advantage.
IBM will also establish a dedicated OpenAI Practice with thousands of consultants and engineers receiving advanced certifications through the OpenAI Partner Network.
AI Moves Into Core Workflows
The companies plan to develop AI solutions for financial services, government, telecommunications and retail.
They are also targeting workflows across finance, procurement, customer operations and human resources.
IBM Consulting Advantage can analyze existing operating procedures and workflows to identify inefficiencies and determine where AI agents and automation could streamline operations.
Specialized IBM forward-deployed teams trained through the OpenAI Partner Network will work directly with organizations implementing the technology.
Codex Targets Application Modernization
Software development and legacy modernization represent another part of the partnership.
IBM plans to combine Codex and ChatGPT Work with its existing technology and industry expertise to help organizations modernize applications and accelerate engineering processes.
The companies are positioning AI-assisted development as a way to address legacy systems and fragmented business processes that can make enterprise AI adoption more difficult.
Cybersecurity Collaboration Expands
IBM and OpenAI are also expanding their security work following IBM’s participation in OpenAI’s Daybreak Cyber Partner Program.
OpenAI frontier AI technology will be combined with IBM Autonomous Security, a multi-agent service designed to coordinate security decisions, intelligence and responses.
The companies plan to address application-layer vulnerabilities, AI governance gaps, model risks and other operational security challenges associated with deploying AI at scale.
IBM will also join OpenAI’s Elite partner tier as the two companies expand joint enterprise AI initiatives.