IBM Opens watsonx AI Labs Hub in NYC, Acquires AI Agent Technology from Seek AI

IBM is launching watsonx AI Labs, a new, developer-first innovation hub in New York City, designed to supercharge AI builders and accelerate AI adoption at scale.

According to IBM, watsonx AI Labs connects IBM's enterprise resources and expertise with the next generation of AI developers to build breakthrough AI applications for business. 

Located in the heart of Manhattan at IBM's new offices at One Madison, watsonx AI Labs extends IBM's global network of engineering labs, bringing together IBM researchers and engineers in a collaborative hub dedicated to co-creating and advancing meaningful, agentic AI solutions.

The lab will work side-by-side with startups, scale-ups, and the world's largest enterprises to help clients unlock real-world value from their AI.

The lab benefits from—and helps fuel—New York City's status as a global AI hub. New York City has more than 2,000 AI startups, and its AI workforce grew by nearly 25% from 2022 to 2023, according to Tech:NYC.

Also, in an effort to continue its commitment to the local startup ecosystem, IBM announced it will acquire expertise and license technology from Seek AI, the New York City-based startup building AI agents to harness enterprise data.

Seek AI helps businesses leverage agentic AI to mine value from enterprise data, and their expertise will serve as a foundational part of watsonx AI Labs, IBM explained.

"This isn't your typical corporate lab. watsonx AI Labs is where the best AI developers gain access to world-class engineers and resources and build new businesses and applications that will reshape AI for the enterprise," said Ritika Gunnar, general manager, data and AI, IBM. "By anchoring this mission in New York City, we are investing in a diverse, world-class talent pool and a vibrant community whose innovations have long shaped the tech landscape."

The lab seeks to tap into New York City's rich technology landscape by attracting local talent, pursuing collaborations with local universities and research institutions, and supporting local entrepreneurs. Consistent with IBM's long-standing investment in New York State, over the next five years, local startups that successfully launch AI enterprise solutions at the lab will have access to technical experts, mentorship and amplification, as well as potential investment from IBM Ventures and its global $500M Enterprise AI Venture Fund.

"Building a foundational part of watsonx AI Labs allows us to pair our expertise building data agents with IBM's engineering depth to solve clients' toughest AI challenges," said Sarah Nagy, CEO of Seek AI. "We're excited to tackle these challenges here in New York City, where Seek AI was founded and the AI talent and innovation ecosystem is thriving."

As per a statement by IBM, “watsonx AI Labs will focus on co-creation of domain-specific AI solutions to solve enterprises' most complex challenges—from customer service and supply-chain optimization to cybersecurity, responsible AI governance, and open-source AI.”

For more information about this news, visit www.ibm.com.