IBM and Google Cloud launch joint practice for enterprise AI agent deployments
IBM Consulting and Google Cloud announced a new global practice focused on deploying AI agents across enterprises, modernizing infrastructure, and managing hybrid cloud environments. The partnership brings together thousands of IBM consultants certified on Google Cloud, IBM's AI delivery platform, and Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.
The companies position the partnership as addressing a multi-billion-dollar market opportunity as organizations move beyond pilot projects to production-grade AI systems.
What the practice covers
IBM will develop industry-specific AI agents for banking, government, retail, telecommunications, energy, security, insurance, and life sciences. These agents handle workflow automation, decision-making, and autonomous operations using Gemini models.
The practice will focus on:
- Production-ready AI and data infrastructure
- Industry-specific solutions
- Cybersecurity operations
- Hybrid cloud modernization
- AI-powered workflows and governance
IBM will integrate Gemini with its own tools-watsonx Orchestrate for decision automation and watsonx.data for data insights. Red Hat OpenShift is now available directly in the Google Cloud Console as part of the integration.
How it works for customer-facing operations
For organizations managing customer support and service operations, the partnership addresses a practical problem: connecting enterprise data to AI agents while maintaining governance and security. IBM consultants will design and build agents that work within existing technology environments rather than requiring wholesale infrastructure replacement.
The approach combines AI Agents & Automation capabilities with IBM's industry expertise and proven delivery methods. This matters for customer support teams because production-grade agents require more than models-they need platforms, reusable assets, governance controls, and the ability to run where client data lives.
Organizations in regulated sectors like financial services, healthcare, and government face particular constraints. The partnership addresses compliance and operational resilience alongside agent deployment.
Proven track record
IBM and Google Cloud previously worked together on an Airbus migration project. IBM consultants helped transition two aerospace businesses into independent operations in under 18 months, updating more than 100 critical systems across engineering, manufacturing, customer service, and other regulated functions.
Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting, said: "Enterprises are facing one of the most complex modernization cycles in decades. By expanding our work with Google Cloud, we're giving clients a clearer and more reliable path to scale AI across their business, combining deep industry expertise, hybrid-cloud modernization, and an AI-first delivery platform."
Kevin Ichhpurani, President of Global Partner Ecosystem at Google Cloud, added: "This partnership significantly expands the pool of expert Google Cloud consultants in the market to meet surging demand for AI. By combining Google's agentic infrastructure with IBM's deep industry expertise and proven delivery frameworks, we are ensuring joint customers can move beyond pilots to deploy and govern production-grade AI agents across their entire cloud environment."
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