IBM’s New Watson Centre Merges Blockchain With AI

IBM today opened an incubator where 5,000 computer scientists will work to build rapid prototypes using the company’s blockchain and Watson AI tools for businesses in the Asian-Pacific region.

Called the Watson Centre at Marina Bay in Singapore, the incubator will also house Singapore’s IBM Garage, which will specialize in building blockchain applications using the company’s Open Standards tools.

IBM Asia Pacific’s chairman and CEO, Randy Walker, described the operation in a statement:

"Watson and blockchain are two technologies that will rapidly change the way we live and work, and our clients in Asia Pacific are eager to lead the way in envisioning and creating that future."

The IBM Garage is run as part of the company’s Global Entrepreneur program. Launched in 2010, it is intended to help startups build distributed ledger applications using the IBM Cloud.

All-in on blockchain

The opening of the new center comes during an active time for IBM and its exploration of blockchain.

IBM's work with the emerging technology goes back to 2015 when it joined the Hyperledger open-source blockchain project to build a cross-industry distributed ledger solution. Further, earlier this year, IBM CTO Chris Ferris was appointed project lead for Hyperledger.

By February, IBM blockchain director John Wolpert declared that the company was "all in on blockchain" during a keynote speech in San Francisco, and the following month, the company was already working to merge AI with blockchian.

Image of Watson Centre at Marina Bay via IBM

DISCLOSURE

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.

Michael del Castillo

Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.