Welcome to your IBM i update for August 2025. And for this month, we enjoy some great insight from David Spurway who discusses the nuances of Power11, AI and Security on i. We also look at the Pros and Cons of IBM i for the modern enterprise in 2025 and discover how the Power11 launch was received by the markets and press.
You can watch the video above or read the blog post below…
Why the IBM i is more modern than you think
If you’ve spent any time in the IBM i world, you’ll know it’s a bit like that trusty old Volvo estate your uncle still drives… it’s solid, dependable, has all the latest safety features… but everyone assumes it’s from 1993. The reality? IBM i is very much alive, quietly powering banking systems, manufacturing plants, and supply chains across the globe.
And it’s still evolving. just not with flashy TikTok videos. In a recent article on the Four Hundred, Alex Woodie discussed the pros and cons of IBM i as described by real user review on G2 – the online web community for those wishing to learn more on enterprise IT software. Here, he discovered what people love about it, and what makes them sigh into their coffee too.
The Good: What people love about IBM i
So, why do people love IBM i?
1. Reliability That’s Borderline Boring
IBM i’s uptime is ridiculous, but in a good way. We’re talking, “near 100% uptime with no known viruses in the wild” levels of stability. One reviewer said their IBM i box has been running the same app for 20 years without failure. That’s not just reliability; that’s “set it and forget it” levels of stability.
2. Security You Can Brag About
While other platforms set alerts and are open to daily attacks, IBM i just quietly shrugs off most threats. Access control, encryption, and integrated security features make it a favourite in industries where data breaches equal career-ending phone calls.
3. The Database That’s Part of the Furniture
Db2 for i isn’t just bolted on, it’s baked into the operating system. That means fewer moving parts, tighter performance, and fewer “Who’s responsible for this server again?” conversations. Developers on Reddit have called it “bulletproof” for uptime and data integrity.
4. Modern(ish)
Yes, it still runs RPG, but also supports SQL, REST APIs, Python, PHP, Node.js, and a few other trendy languages. It’s a bit like your dad finally learning how to use WhatsApp… While, not quite Gen Z on SnapChat, we can still facetime with the rest of them.
The not-so-great: Criticisms of IBM i
So, all good right… well, let’s take a look at the not-so-great bits before we start high-fiving ourselves.
1. The Legacy Stigma
Mention “AS/400” and watch younger developers’ eyes glaze over. The green-screen image is still burned into people’s minds, even though the modern UI can be much more, well, modern. It’s more of a branding problem than a tech one – but a problem that is real and a problem that remains.
2. Learning Curve: Steep and Slippery
If you’re brand new to IBM i, expect to climb a hill… in the rain… while carrying RDi manuals. The tools can be powerful, but they’re not (yet) as instantly friendly as a browser-based low-code platform.
3. Good Talent is Like Unicorn Dust
Finding skilled IBM i professionals is getting harder, partly because many are retiring and not enough new blood is coming in. But thankfully there are reliable managed services available (such as our good-selves, Proximity) who can swoop in like the caped crusader when the bat signal lights up the night sky.
4. Not Cheap for the Little Guys
For small businesses, licensing and maintenance costs can feel steep. On the flip side, the total cost of ownership can be lower over time, but that’s a story for another day in another update (with another coffee).
Why does all this matter? Well, for organisations running business-critical systems, IBM i is like the reliable team member who never calls in sick, knows everything about the job, and doesn’t need babysitting. But to keep it relevant, companies need to modernise the way they present., develop and support it – updating interfaces, adopting modern languages, and investing in onboarding or equivalent services.
So, while IBM i might not make headlines like AI or quantum computing, it’s quietly running the world behind the scenes. In tech, flashy doesn’t always mean better, and sometimes a “steady-Eddy” rather than ‘flash-Harry” is the exactly what you need.
A look at the Power11 launch
Now, only a month ago, we enjoyed the launch of the Power11. And with four weeks behind us, let’s see how the press and markets reacted to the launch
I think it’s fair to say that the response to the launch was well received – tech writers and analysts appreciate Power11’s strong emphasis on uptime, AI inferencing, and security. However, there’s a sense that the innovation leans evolutionary rather than revolutionary, somewhat dampening broader excitement. Picking out four press articles here:
Reuters characterised the launch positively. They highlighting energy efficiency, reliability, AI integration, and simplicity for enterprises deploying AI. However, it also stressed that the market reaction was fairly muted, with neither market frenzy or disbelief. Reuters
Tom’s Hardware praised the robustness, particularly around ransomware resilience. But flagged that the one-minute alert guarantee covers only detection, not remediation, indicating cautious praise with attention to detail. Tom’s Hardware
TechRadar took a strongly positive tone – celebrating Power11’s architecture, hybrid cloud readiness, quantum safe encryption, and performance gains. Delivering a clear thumbs-up from the online tech media company. TechRadar
The Times of India emphasised IBM’s smart positioning with Power11 enriching enterprise AI inference without trying to go head-to-head with Nvidia’s, reinforcing the messaging of sensible specialisation. The Times of India
A conversation with David Spurway on Power11
To expand on the market sentiment on the Power11 launch, I took time with David Spurway and discussed his thoughts on the launch, the future of IBM i Power and its place within the enterprise, with AI and ever expanding security concerns…
Andy Nicholson: David, thank you for joining the IBM i Update. You’re an AI and Security Principal at IBM and you speak all over the world on Power. In the past few weeks, we saw a major announcement, the release of Power 11- and you were there at the event. To start with, can you tell me about the buzz around the launch and the response from attendees and the press?
David Spurway: Yes, I had the pleasure of being at the global announcement. This was actually one of the first we’ve done in Europe, rather than in the US. We were in Munich, the room was full, and I was part of a demo area showing off new capabilities. There was a real buzz – lots of questions, great interaction.
We also had a large remote audience, around 3,000 people joined online, with nearly 90% staying engaged. That’s a strong indication we’re heading in the right direction.
Andy Nicholson: Now, there were many technical details released about Power 11, but before we get into those, how would you describe the release to someone outside the IBM ecosystem?
David Spurway: This time we took a slightly different approach. Instead of looking at Power in isolation, we asked “What happens when we bring different parts of IBM together into an end-to-end solution?”
We looked at how Power integrates with software and storage, and how that combination can strengthen cybersecurity. We built from the idea of the ‘full stack’ understanding what challenges customers face, and how we can deliver solutions as part of a wider IBM package that’s accessible and genuinely useful.
Andy Nicholson: That’s a great overview, thank you David. From a technical standpoint, what are the standout innovations in Power 11 compared to Power 10 in performance, security, or AI?
David Spurway: All of the above. One key area we focused on was downtime. IBM Power is highly reliable, and unplanned outages are rare. But customers told us planned outages, maintenance, patching, updates… were all a real pain point. Previously, you had multiple touchpoints and processes to manage. With Power 11, we’ve streamlined this. In some cases, we can now achieve zero planned downtime. Imagine pressing a single button to manage the whole patching process, with no disruption to services.
We’ve also simplified raising support calls. Traditionally, you needed in-depth skills to gather logs and submit the right data. Now, with a single button on the HMC, you can upload everything directly to IBM Support. Even my son, during a work experience week, was able to do this.
And of course, there are improvements in cybersecurity, AI capabilities, energy efficiency, and overall performance. It’s a broad set of advancements delivered at once.
Andy Nicholson: That’s incredible. And if we put the business lens on – say an organisation is on Power 9 or earlier, what’s the strongest case for upgrading now?
David Spurway: The first reason is simple: you don’t want to be running on unsupported hardware. As one of our IBM Fellows once said, “Software eventually works, and hardware eventually breaks.”
Security is another major driver. Cybersecurity is front of mind for every business. To stay protected, you need access to the latest patches—both hardware and OS. Older systems can’t always support these, which leaves you exposed.
And there are financial benefits too: lower energy consumption, reduced software costs, and lower support charges. Upgrading not only keeps you safe, but it can also save you money.
Andy Nicholson: Thank you, David. Now, one of the big talking points for Power 11 is its AI readiness. Could you walk us through what that means for IBM i customers?
David Spurway: Absolutely. AI is everywhere right now, everyone’s talking about it, from boardrooms to the pub. With Power 10 and Power 11, you can run generative AI directly on the platform. Earlier generations don’t have the necessary hardware inside the servers.
We’ve been demonstrating how AI can sometimes “hallucinate” or give outdated answers. But when you connect it to your data on IBM Power using retrieval augmented generation (RAG), you can trust the responses—they come from reliable, up-to-date sources.
For example, we’ve built IT operations chatbots that can answer questions like “What errors are showing on my Power system?” by pulling directly from documentation. IBM i plays a key role here too. It can run machine learning directly, provide critical business data, and integrate into larger AI workflows.
And then there’s Spire, coming later this year. Think of it as a “get bigger” button—when your AI workloads scale, Spire gives you accelerator power without complex integration. Sometimes it’s as simple as changing a single line of code to unlock faster performance.
Andy Nicholson: IBM also talks about hybrid AI, blending symbolic, dual, and generative AI. What does that look like in practice on IBM i?
David Spurway: Hybrid AI means using different types of AI where they fit best. For instance, we’re working on an insurance demo where a chatbot can guide a customer through raising a claim. The generative AI interprets the request, while the IBM i database handles the back-end processing.
Or in IT operations: the AI chatbot queries what’s happening inside your Power system and provides answers. This can run entirely on-premises, in hybrid cloud, or in both, depending on the use case. The key point is: IBM i isn’t left sitting in a legacy corner. It’s an active part of the modern AI conversation.
Andy Nicholson: That makes sense. And where do you see the biggest opportunities for AI on IBM i?
David Spurway: One exciting area is bridging the skills gap. IBM’s Code Assistant for i will use generative AI to describe RPG code in plain language. This helps both executives who want to understand what the code does, and new RPG developers who need to learn quickly. Over time, it will also generate code.
Beyond that, IBM i can feed into larger AI ecosystems—whether for business process automation, analytics, or data fabrics. The important point is IBM i becomes part of a modern, integrated solution.
Andy Nicholson: Excellent. Now, sustainability is high on every board’s agenda. How does Power 11 address energy efficiency?
David Spurway: We’ve designed Power 11 to deliver equal or better performance while using less energy than previous generations.
There’s also a feature where you can lower energy consumption by around 30% with just a small drop in performance—around 10%. For example, you could schedule this during quiet periods, like weekends, reducing costs and supporting your sustainability goals.
And there’s more to come—future generations will go even further in this space.
Andy Nicholson: That’s a win for both the environment and the bottom line. Looking ahead, what do you think the IBM i platform will look like in five years?
David Spurway: I see hardware, software, and AI continuing to evolve together. IBM Research is constantly innovating at the silicon level, and we can integrate those advancements into servers and operating systems.
AI will increasingly handle the “dull” tasks—constantly monitoring logs, detecting unusual activity, flagging potential cyberattacks—without fatigue or distraction.
And IBM i will keep evolving too. The roadmap stretches well beyond 2030, with many innovations still to come. The core idea of IBM i—an integrated, forward-looking system—remains strong.
Andy Nicholson: And finally, for customers planning their strategy now, what’s your one piece of advice for making the most of Power 11 and IBM’s AI tools?
David Spurway: If you’re on older hardware—Power 9 or earlier—it’s time to move forward. To take advantage of AI, you need Power 10 or 11.
Stay current with both hardware and operating system levels. Work with IBM or our business partners to plan your path, and explore which AI capabilities will actually benefit your business. IBM i will be a vital part of that journey.
Andy Nicholson: Excellent advice as always, David. Thank you so much for your time, and for being such a passionate advocate and resource for the IBM Power and IBM i community. It’s always a pleasure.
David Spurway: My pleasure – thank you.
My thanks to David for taking time to speak with me.
And that’s a wrap for your August 2025 edition of the IBM i. I do hope you enjoyed this newsletter and you’ve also had time to enjoy a relaxing holiday too.
If you missed it, catch up on our July IBM i update. We’ve also got a summary of all the IBM i Updates published in 2024 here.
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