IBM unveiled its latest mainframe computer on April 8, 2025 – the z17 system. This new machine marks a shift for the century-old tech giant, as it’s the first mainframe specifically built to handle artificial intelligence workloads directly where business data lives.
“The industry is quickly learning that AI will only be as valuable as the infrastructure it runs on,” said Ross Mauri, general manager of IBM Z and LinuxONE. “With z17, we’re bringing AI to the core of the enterprise.”
Why This Matters
While many businesses have moved computing to the cloud, IBM’s z series mainframe systems handle up to 70% of the world’s financial transactions. IBM’s mainframes serve 45 of the top 50 banks, major airlines, retailers, and 67 of the Fortune 100 companies.
The z17 aims to solve a key problem – running AI where sensitive data already lives. Instead of moving banking records or medical information to external systems for AI analysis (creating security risks), the z17 processes it all in one secure location.
Powerful New Hardware
The z17 runs on IBM’s new Telum II processor, which includes:
- Eight high-performance cores running at 5.5 GHz
- 40% larger memory cache than previous versions
- Built-in AI accelerator chips that can handle 24 trillion operations per second
This combination allows the system to process 450 billion AI operations daily – 50% more than its predecessor.
Later in 2025, IBM will release an add-on card called the Spyre Accelerator with 32 dedicated AI cores and up to 1TB of memory. This expansion will let the z17 run generative AI applications like chatbots directly on the mainframe without sending data elsewhere.
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Real-World Applications
The z17 supports over 250 AI use cases, including:
- Analyzing loan applications for risk in real-time
- Managing customer service chatbots
- Processing medical images
- Detecting retail theft and fraud
These abilities matter for businesses that need to analyze data quickly while maintaining security and privacy.
Behind the Curtain
The z17 represents five years of design work and more than 300 patent applications. IBM developed it with input from over 100 clients and collaboration between its research and software teams.
Along with the hardware, IBM is updating its software. A new operating system version (z/OS 3.2) will arrive in late 2025, designed to work with the enhanced AI capabilities and provide better cloud integration.
IBM is also launching Z Operations Unite in May 2025, a tool that uses AI to detect and fix system problems faster by analyzing performance data across mainframe systems.
Security Focus
Security remains central to the mainframe’s appeal. The z17 includes IBM Vault, which manages access to sensitive data like passwords and security keys. IBM is also adding AI-powered tools to automatically classify sensitive information and detect unusual network activity that might signal a cyber attack.
Timeline
The IBM z17 will be available starting June 18, 2025. The Spyre Accelerator add-on will follow in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the z/OS 3.2 operating system coming in the third quarter.
For businesses still running critical operations on mainframes, the z17 combines AI capabilities with the security and reliability that these systems are known for.
