IBM Spyre Accelerator Set to Revolutionize AI Workloads on IBM Z, LinuxONE, and Power Systems
IBM continues to break new ground in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and computing with the announcement of its latest innovation, the IBM Spyre Accelerator. This high-performance AI accelerator is designed to handle the increasing demands of generative and agentic AI workloads while maintaining the security and resilience required by enterprise systems. The Spyre Accelerator will be available on IBM z17 and LinuxONE 5 systems by October 28, with availability for Power11 servers following in early December.
In today’s rapidly evolving IT landscape, the traditional logic-based workflows are giving way to more dynamic agentic AI inferencing systems. These AI agents require low-latency processing and real-time responsiveness, which is a challenge for existing infrastructure. IBM has recognized the need for mainframes and servers that can support AI models alongside the most demanding enterprise workloads, without sacrificing performance or security.
The IBM Spyre Accelerator is the culmination of years of research and development, showcasing IBM’s robust research-to-product pipeline. This innovation stems from the collaborative efforts at the IBM Research AI Hardware Center, where the initial prototype underwent rigorous development and testing. Notably, the Spyre Accelerator has been refined through deployments at IBM’s Yorktown Heights facility and in partnership with the University at Albany’s Center for Emerging Artificial Intelligence Systems.
The Spyre Accelerator has evolved from a prototype to an enterprise-grade product that integrates seamlessly into IBM Z, LinuxONE, and Power systems. The system-on-a-chip (SoC) comprises 32 individual accelerator cores and contains 25.6 billion transistors, all built using advanced 5nm node technology. Each Spyre unit is housed on a 75-watt PCIe card, allowing for scalability with up to 48 cards in IBM Z or LinuxONE systems, and 16 in IBM Power systems.
Barry Baker, COO of IBM Infrastructure and GM of IBM Systems, highlights the significance of this advancement: "Our priority has always been to evolve our infrastructure to meet the demands of new AI workloads. With the Spyre Accelerator, we expand our systems’ capabilities to support multi-model AI, including generative and agentic AI. Our clients can now scale their AI-enabled mission-critical workloads with unparalleled security and efficiency, tapping into the full potential of their enterprise data."
The Spyre Accelerator is not just another chip—it is a strategic response to the growing computational demands of AI. As Mukesh Khare, GM of IBM Semiconductors and VP of Hybrid Cloud at IBM, notes, "The IBM Research AI Hardware Center was established in 2019 with the foresight to meet AI’s rising computational demands. The Spyre Accelerator is our first chip to reach commercialization, designed to enhance performance and productivity for IBM’s mainframe and server customers."
For businesses leveraging IBM systems, the Spyre Accelerator provides a significant leap forward in AI processing capabilities. It allows enterprises to scale AI workloads securely and efficiently within IBM Z, LinuxONE, and Power systems. When paired with the Telum II processor, the Spyre Accelerator enhances security, reduces latency, and increases transaction processing power. This combination of advanced hardware and software enables businesses to scale multiple AI models, supporting applications like sophisticated fraud detection and retail automation.
On IBM Power-based servers, the Spyre Accelerator allows clients to access a comprehensive catalog of AI services, facilitating end-to-end AI integration for enterprise workflows. These services can be installed with just a single click, streamlining the deployment process. The combination of the Spyre Accelerator with on-chip capabilities accelerates data conversion for generative AI, delivering high throughput necessary for deep process integration. With a prompt size of 128, it can process over 8 million documents for knowledge base integration within an hour, demonstrating its impressive capacity and efficiency.
The launch of the IBM Spyre Accelerator is a significant milestone in IBM’s ongoing commitment to AI innovation and infrastructure advancement. For organizations looking to stay ahead in the AI race, the Spyre Accelerator offers an unparalleled opportunity to harness the power of AI while maintaining the security and integrity of their data.
For more information about the IBM Spyre Accelerator, visit IBM’s official AI accelerator page.
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About IBM
IBM is a global leader in the fields of hybrid cloud and AI, providing consulting expertise and solutions to clients in over 175 countries. The company helps organizations leverage data insights, improve business processes, reduce costs, and gain competitive advantages. IBM’s hybrid cloud platform, along with Red Hat OpenShift, is a trusted choice for governments and corporations in critical sectors like financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare, enabling rapid and secure digital transformations. IBM’s innovations in AI, quantum computing, and industry-specific cloud solutions offer flexible and open options for clients, all supported by IBM’s commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.
For more information about IBM, visit their official website.
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