IBM partners with OpenAI to bolster enterprise AI push

IBM and OpenAI announced a partnership to bring OpenAI's AI models and tools to more enterprise customers, with IBM's global consulting business providing a channel for OpenAI to connect with large companies. The deal, whose terms were not disclosed, follows a similar alliance between IBM and Anthropic less than a year ago. IBM will establish a dedicated OpenAI practice within IBM Consulting and train and certify tens of thousands of consultants on OpenAI's technologies, focusing on Codex, API, cybersecurity, and consultative solution credentials. IBM will also create a group of specialized 'Forward Deployed Experts' trained through OpenAI's Partner Network. IBM will integrate OpenAI's latest models, including GPT-5.6, Codex, and ChatGPT Work, into IBM Consulting Advantage, its AI platform for consultants, to help clients deploy AI across core business operations. The partnership is the latest in OpenAI's push to expand its enterprise business through consulting firms and technology partners, as competition among AI model developers shifts from building more capable models to winning corporate customers. OpenAI has previously announced partnerships with IT services firms including Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services. For IBM, the agreement expands its range of frontier AI partnerships as it pursues a model-agnostic strategy combining its own Granite family of AI models with third-party offerings. The partnership comes as IBM looks to accelerate growth in its AI business after lowering its 2026 revenue forecast. In June, IBM and OpenAI had already partnered for the cybersecurity-focused OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program; the new deal expands that relationship by integrating OpenAI's AI models with IBM Autonomous Security.