IBM has unveiled its new Power11 data center chips and servers, marking a significant update to its “Power” chip line since 2020. The new systems, available from July 25, aim to simplify AI deployment in business operations.
The integrated chip and software package prioritizes reliability and security, according to Tom McPherson, General Manager of Power systems at IBM. The Power11 systems are designed to have no planned downtime for software updates and average just over 30 seconds of unplanned downtime annually. Furthermore, they are designed to detect and respond to ransomware attacks within a minute, enhancing their security features.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, IBM plans to integrate Power11 with Spyre, its AI chip introduced last year. McPherson emphasized that IBM is not competing with Nvidia in AI system training but is focusing on simplifying AI deployment for inference – the process of applying AI to business tasks. “We can integrate AI capabilities seamlessly into this for inference acceleration and help their business process improvements,” McPherson stated, highlighting the systems’ “really good inferencing capabilities that are simple to integrate.”
The new Power11 systems also offer enhanced power efficiency compared to rivals like Intel and AMD, making them a competitive option in the data center chip market. With its focus on reliability, security, and AI deployment, IBM’s Power11 systems are poised to make a significant impact in the industry.
