International Business Machines Corporation

• 80,000+ IBM employees currently using IBM Bob; surveyed users report average 45% productivity gain
• Multi-model orchestration automatically routes each task to a suitable model based on accuracy, performance, and cost
• Goes beyond code generation to automate full software development lifecycle workflows
• Governance, compliance, and security controls built into every step

ARMONK, N.Y., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the global availability of IBM Bob, an AI-first development partner built for enterprise teams. Bob doesn't just help developers write code fast. It works across the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), from planning and coding to testing, deployment, and modernization, with the governance and security controls enterprises need.

AI is changing how software gets built. But for most enterprises, that speed is running headfirst into decades of accumulated complexity: legacy systems, hybrid environments, compliance requirements, and the very real cost of getting it wrong. Fast AI without the right guardrails is not progress. It is just faster risk.

IBM Bob is designed to close that gap. It's built on a structured framework that embeds Bob into every role across the development process – including persona-based modes, enforced standards, reusable playbooks, tool calling, and human-in-the-loop governance – so teams can move fast while staying in control.

 Key capabilities include:

• AI-first SDLC orchestration: It is estimated that a significant portion of development effort is fragmented across tools, roles, and lifecycle stages—slowing delivery and introducing risk. Bob embeds agentic AI across the entire SDLC—from discovery and planning through design, coding, testing, deployment, and operations—coordinating specialized role-based agents, reusable skills, and governed workflows.
• Intelligent modernization: It is estimated that 60–80% of development budgets go toward modernization efforts that can take weeks or months.¹ Bob coordinates specialized agents across code, tests, documentation, and pipelines to execute complete modernization tasks. For example, Bob helped cloud solutions and consulting services company Blue Pearl conduct a typical 30-day Java upgrade in just 3 days, saving over 160 engineering hours.²
• Security controls built in from day one: AI isn't just accelerating software development; it's transforming the security landscape and introducing new risks. Bob includes prompt normalization, sensitive data scanning, real-time policy enforcement, and AI red-teaming directly within the development workflow, not as an afterthought.
• Auditability: AI-generated code can reach production without sufficient review, creating compliance blind spots. Bob's CLI (BobShell) creates self-documenting agentic processes in real time, so every action is traceable from start to finish.
• Multi-model orchestration: Bob dynamically routes tasks to a suitable model based on accuracy, performance, and cost, drawing on a mix of frontier models including Anthropic Claude, Mistral open source models, and IBM Granite, alongside specialized fine-tuned models for code reasoning, security, and next-edit prediction. Simpler completions go to lighter models. Complex tasks go to more capable ones. The goal: better outcomes and lower spend.
• Transparency and developer control: Bob's approval model lets developers configure checkpoints that match their workflow, from manual approvals to auto-approve by task type, keeping humans in the loop.

"Every business is racing to modernize. But speed without control and transparency is a liability. IBM Bob is how enterprises can move at AI speed without sacrificing the governance and security needs their businesses require. Bob was engineered by developers inside IBM for the millions like them worldwide, and it's the foundation on which enterprises will become truly AI-first." — Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, IBM Software

Stop managing models. Start managing outcomes.

Enterprises don't have a model problem. They have an outcome consistency problem. As AI adoption matures, the challenge isn't which model to use, it's how to consistently get the best result across a rapidly evolving landscape without making model selection an ongoing engineering distraction.

Bob handles this automatically. It draws on a mix of frontier LLMs, open source models, IBM Granite SLMs, and specialized fine-tuned models to route each task to a suitable model based on accuracy, latency, and cost across the full SDLC, from planning and coding to testing and validation. With pass-through pricing and usage visibility, organizations can align AI spend to real outcomes rather than experimentation.

"Developers need a system that understands the full context of their work and can act on it. That's what we built with Bob. It's an agentic platform that embeds an AI partner into every role across the SDLC, from the architect sketching a design to the security engineer reviewing code before it ships. We built Bob around a simple belief: model capability alone isn't enough. How you deploy it, how you structure context, and how you keep humans in the loop is what determines whether AI actually delivers. With Bob, we're helping developers to automate the mundane, and augment the complicated." — Neel Sundaresan, General Manager, Automation & AI, IBM Software

Proven at scale inside IBM

Bob launched inside IBM in June 2025 with 100 developers. It's now in use by more than 80,000 IBM employees worldwide. Those surveyed have self-reported an average productivity gain of 45% across modernization, security, and new development work. On specific tasks, the numbers were higher:

• Developers surveyed from the IBM Instana team reported an average 70% reduction in time spent on selected tasks, equaling an average time savings of 10 hours per week.
  
  
  
  
• The IBM Maximo developer team tested Bob for various code generation and refactoring tasks, including updating code – tasks that normally take days. With Bob, the team was able to complete the tasks in hours, resulting in an estimated 69% time savings.

Real-world results

Ernst & Young is using IBM Bob to accelerate modernization of their global tax platform by automating code refactoring, test generation, and documentation.

"Developing enterprise platforms isn't just about speed. It's about understanding deeply embedded logic, maintaining architectural standards, and evolving systems responsibly. EY teams leveraged IBM Bob to apply AI to better interpret complex logic and streamline how changes are introduced, helping create a stronger foundation for scalable transformation." 

— Christopher Aiken, Tax Platforms Leader and Chief Product Officer, Ernst & Young, LLP

Blue Pearl used Bob to accelerate delivery across its BlueApp platform. Work that typically required weeks of engineering effort was completed in three days, with zero defects post-deployment and over 160 hours saved through automated refactoring.

"Working with IBM through Bob…enabled us to deliver measurable value." — Saireshan Govender, Group CEO, Blue Pearl

APIS IT used Bob to modernize mission-critical government systems spanning decades of technical debt, including mainframe and .NET environments. Bob produced 10x faster architecture analysis and documentation, with 100% accuracy in documenting legacy JCL/PL/I systems, and migrated complex .NET services in hours rather than weeks.

"Bob migrated our complex .NET services in hours instead of weeks." — Veran Pokornić, Solution Architect, APIS IT

Availability

IBM Bob is now generally available as a SaaS offering, including a complimentary 30-day trial alongside individual and enterprise plans. On-premises deployment is targeted in the future for organizations with data residency or regulatory requirements. To access Bob, visit bob.ibm.com.

IBM Bob represents the evolution of IBM's code assistants, elevating capabilities to an end-to-end delivery model that delivers a step-change in productivity, modernization, and coordination across the SDLC. Existing WCA clients will continue to be fully supported and will have an adoption path to Bob.

Supporting Materials: 

Blog: Shifting from AI-assisted coding to AI-assisted delivery with IBM Bob

Blog: Introducing the IBM Bob Premium Package for Z

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to effect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:

Sarah Benchaita

IBM

sarah.benchaita@ibm.com

¹ https://sync-sys.com/your-it-budget-is-80-maintenance/#:~:text=Your%20IT%20budget%20is%2080,generative%20AI%2C%20drive%20competitive%20advantages.  

² https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/blue-pearl-bob

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FONTE IBM

Double-digit Software and Infrastructure revenue growth; Strong margin expansion and double-digit profit and free cash flow growth

ARMONK, N.Y., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced first-quarter 2026 earnings results.

"The first quarter was a strong start to the year with broad-based revenue growth across our segments. These results reflect the integrated value of our portfolio and the trust clients put in us to improve their operations. As clients scale use cases, AI continues to be a tailwind for our global business. IBM products and services are helping clients orchestrate, deploy and govern AI across hybrid environments," said Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Given this strong start, we continue to expect more than 5 percent constant currency revenue growth and an increase of about $1 billion in year-over-year free cash flow in 2026."

First-Quarter Highlights

• Revenue
  - Revenue of $15.9 billion, up 9 percent, up 6 percent at constant currency
  - Software revenue up 11 percent, up 8 percent at constant currency
  - Consulting revenue up 4 percent, up 1 percent at constant currency
  - Infrastructure revenue up 15 percent, up 12 percent at constant currency
• Profit
  - Gross Profit Margin: GAAP: 56.2 percent, up 100 basis points; Operating (Non-GAAP):
     57.7 percent, up 110 basis points
  - Pre-Tax Income Margin: GAAP: 8.7 percent, up 80 basis points; Operating (Non-GAAP):
    13.4 percent, up 140 basis points
• Cash Flow
  - Year to date, net cash from operating activities of $5.2 billion; free cash flow of $2.2 billion

"Our solid revenue growth, portfolio mix and productivity initiatives drove double-digit profit and free cash flow growth in the quarter," said James Kavanaugh, IBM senior vice president and chief financial officer. "The durability of our portfolio combined with our disciplined execution continues to give us the financial flexibility needed to both invest in our business and return value to shareholders through our dividend."

Segment Results for First Quarter

• Software — revenues of $7.1 billion, up 11 percent, up 8 percent at constant currency:
  - Hybrid Cloud (Red Hat) up 13 percent, up 10 percent at constant currency
  - Automation up 10 percent, up 7 percent at constant currency
  - Data up 19 percent, up 16 percent at constant currency
  - Transaction Processing up 6 percent, up 2 percent at constant currency
  
  
• Consulting — revenues of $5.3 billion, up 4 percent, up 1 percent at constant currency:
  - Strategy and Technology up 4 percent, up 1 percent at constant currency
  - Intelligent Operations up 4 percent, up 1 percent at constant currency
  
  
• Infrastructure — revenues of $3.3 billion, up 15 percent, up 12 percent at constant currency:
  - Hybrid Infrastructure up 28 percent, up 25 percent at constant currency
        -- IBM Z up 51 percent, up 48 percent at constant currency
        -- Distributed Infrastructure up 17 percent, up 13 percent at constant currency
  - Infrastructure Support down 2 percent, down 6 percent at constant currency
  
  
• Financing — revenues of $0.2 billion, up 15 percent, up 10 percent at constant currency

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

In the first quarter, the company generated net cash from operating activities of $5.2 billion, up $0.8 billion year to year. IBM's free cash flow was $2.2 billion, up $0.3 billion year to year. The company returned $1.6 billion to shareholders in dividends in the first quarter and invested in the acquisition of Confluent.

IBM ended the first quarter with $11.8 billion of cash, restricted cash and marketable securities, down $2.6 billion from year-end 2025. Debt, including IBM Financing debt of $12.8 billion, totaled $66.4 billion, up $5.1 billion year to date.

Full-Year 2026 Expectations

• Revenue: The company continues to expect full-year constant currency revenue growth of more than 5 percent. At current foreign exchange rates, currency is expected to be about a half-point to one-point tailwind to growth for the year
• Free cash flow: The company continues to expect full-year free cash flow to increase by about $1 billion year-over-year

Dividend Declaration

The IBM board of directors declared an increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend to $1.69 per common share, payable June 10, 2026 to stockholders of record as of May 8, 2026.

This is the 31st year in a row that IBM has increased its quarterly cash dividend. IBM has paid consecutive quarterly dividends since 1916.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the company's current assumptions regarding future business and financial performance. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, the following: a downturn in economic environment and client spending budgets; a failure of the company's innovation initiatives; damage to the company's reputation; risks from investing in growth opportunities; failure of the company's intellectual property portfolio to prevent competitive offerings and the failure of the company to obtain necessary licenses; the company's ability to successfully manage acquisitions, alliances and divestitures, including integration challenges, failure to achieve objectives, the assumption or retention of liabilities and higher debt levels; fluctuations in financial results; impact of local legal, economic, political, health and other conditions; the company's failure to meet growth and productivity objectives; ineffective internal controls; the company's use of accounting estimates; impairment of the company's goodwill or amortizable intangible assets; the company's ability to attract and retain key employees and its reliance on critical skills; impacts of relationships with critical suppliers; product and service quality issues; the development and use of AI, including the company's increased AI solutions and use of AI technologies; impacts of business with government clients; reliance on third party distribution channels and ecosystems; cybersecurity and data protection considerations; adverse effects related to climate change and other environmental matters; tax matters; legal proceedings and investigatory risks; the company's pension plans; currency fluctuations and customer financing risks; impact of changes in market liquidity conditions and customer credit risk on receivables; risk factors related to IBM securities; and other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed in the company's Form 10-Qs, Form 10-K and in the company's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or in materials incorporated therein by reference.

Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Presentation of Information in this Press Release

In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding the company's results as determined by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the company has also disclosed in this press release the following non-GAAP information, which management believes provides useful information to investors:

• adjusting for currency (i.e., at constant currency);
• presenting operating (non-GAAP) earnings per share amounts and related income statement items;
• free cash flow;
• net cash from operating activities excluding IBM Financing receivables;
• adjusted EBITDA;
• adjusted EBITDA margin.

The rationale for management's use of these non-GAAP measures is included in Exhibit 99.2 in the Form 8-K that includes this press release and is being submitted today to the SEC.

Conference Call and Webcast

IBM's regular quarterly earnings conference call is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET, today. The Webcast may be accessed via a link at https://www.ibm.com/investor/events/earnings-1q26. Presentation charts will be available shortly before the Webcast.

Financial Results Below (certain amounts may not add due to use of rounded numbers; percentages presented are calculated from the underlying whole-dollar amounts).

Contact:      IBM
                    Tim Davidson, 914-844-7847
                    tfdavids@us.ibm.com 
    
                    Erin McElwee, 347-920-6825
                    erin.mcelwee@ibm.com

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SOURCE IBM