US company IBM has launched a new generative artificial intelligence platform that it says will help companies to use the most advanced capabilities of the technology in an easy and secure manner.
The platform, Watsonx, will help businesses manage with their own AI-supported data and use it at scale in a “more trustworthy and open environment, to drive business success”, New York-based IBM said during its annual Think conference.
It will also provide organisations with a toolkit to support the governance of AI and ensure data is always secure and complies with regulatory and ethical requirements, IBM said.
Watsonx, which will be made available in July, is an evolution of IBM Watson, a computer programme that can respond to questions asked in natural language, and is named after IBM founder Thomas Watson.
“There is a lot of interest in [generative AI] but people are unsure about what to do and how to do it,” said Rob Thomas, chief commercial officer of IBM.
“What I hear over and over again is they want something that's trusted, scaleable and adaptable, and they want to avoid any of the pitfalls that could come with rolling out AI before a company's really ready.”
AI in business is not new, but it has significantly gained momentum with the advent of generative AI. The technology — made popular by the OpenAI's ChatGPT — can produce various kinds of data, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, 3D objects and videos.
While it takes cues from existing data, it is also capable of generating new and unexpected output, according to GenerativeAI.net.
The rise of ChatGPT has started a race with Google's Bard, drawn interest from Twitter chief executive Elon Musk and prompted Apple to work on improving its digital assistant Siri.
Investors poured in more than $4.2 billion into generative AI start-ups in 2021 and 2022 through 215 deals after interest surged in 2019, recent data from CB Insights showed.
About 99 per cent of companies have reported that they have been able to cut their costs by using virtual agent technology, according to an IBM study.
“There is something unique happening right now in AI. We see the world taking large language models [and] how it is being adapted by businesses that are looking beyond consumer use cases for how to improve their business, decrease costs and increase their revenue,” Mr Thomas said.
Large language models are trained on amounts of text data for natural language processing tasks. They support the processing and generation of natural language text for diverse tasks.
“This is the notion that we can train models based on unlabelled data and focus on use cases that are highly relevant in business,” Mr Thomas said.
People want [AI] that's trusted, scaleable and adaptable, and they want to avoid any of the pitfalls that could come with rolling out AI before a company's really ready
Rob Thomas,
chief commercial officer of IBM
Watsonx was also developed with data governance in focus, in an era where regulators have become stricter with the way companies handle user data to protect their privacy.
“We have participated with governments around the world when they launch efforts to try to better understand the technology,” said Dario Gil, a senior vice president and director of research at IBM.
The rapidly advancing development of foundation models is also making AI for business “more powerful than ever”, said Arvind Krishna, chairman and chief executive of IBM.
“Foundation models make deploying AI significantly more scaleable, affordable and efficient … so that clients can be more than just users — they can become AI-advantaged.”
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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