AI is dominating conversations and automating everything from database transaction analysis to IBM i system monitoring to network security and surveillance. Access to abundant quality data is at the heart of it all, and that begins in the cloud.
IBM watsonx, a suite of AI tools and services, has emerged as an impressive and beneficial ally in the journey to take full advantage of everything AI offers.
The versatile virtual toolbox is built differently than many other AI services because it takes into account those who aren’t well versed in AI. This makes it easier for the average person to use watsonx without in-depth technical knowledge. It also stands out for its AI model training and deployment capabilities, with some of the industry’s most robust support for the entirety of the AI life cycle.
But just how beneficial is it to incorporate AI into IT solutions for your business? McKinsey & Company writes about how quickly businesses are implementing AI and why. They explain that “as generative AI adoption accelerates, survey respondents report measurable benefits and increased mitigation of the risk of inaccuracy.” Their findings make it clear that AI has efficiency-boosting and cost-saving capabilities, but only if we can reduce inaccuracy by increasing access to large volumes of high-quality data.
Leveraging watsonx in multi-cloud environments that integrate an IBM Power Systems cloud deployment with AWS, Azure, or GCP, is how you get that data with unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and security. Direct Connect is the plumbing that makes it all work.
Now, creating a multi-cloud environment that feels fully customizable and caters to your business needs is well within your grasp. Let’s delve into what IBM watsonx is and how to effectively use it with IBM Cloud Direct Connect in multi-cloud environments. We’ll also highlight its benefits, implementation strategies, and best practices.
What is IBM watsonx?
IBM watsonx is an AI and data platform designed to help organizations better incorporate AI into their daily workflows in a way that makes sense for them. It provides various services to help businesses streamline processes like natural language processing and data analytics.
Each feature can be customized to meet specific business needs, making it an attractive choice for those who want to use AI but don’t want to overhaul how they do things. Watsonx’s capabilities extend across multiple industries, enabling companies in every sector to harness AI-driven insights and automation. It’s one of many AI tools popping up as an option for businesses—one that you can leverage even more effectively with Cloud Direct Connect by building a data bridge through a multi-cloud environment.
The most vital part of getting everything to work together is having ample data to execute critical processes. Direct Connect’s private link enables you to quickly send and receive data as needed, so AI never has to go without the necessary resources to do its job.
A good example of this in action would be using watsonx to build and train AI models to deploy chatbots that provide a valuable customer service experience. You can integrate these models into existing chatbots as well as deliver more thought-out responses that are personalized to the AI user.
Advantages of running IBM watsonx on the cloud
AI’s impact on business continues to grow. An article by Florida International University Business School titled “The Competitive Advantage of Using AI in Business” shows why every business should pay attention to the power of AI: “Whether you are part of a large corporation or a small business owner, you can use AI to increase your competitive advantage.”
There are clear-cut advantages to using IBM watsonx on the cloud, but if you’re unfamiliar with this technology, it might be hard to see how it fits into your business’s bigger picture. Here are a few examples of the advantages you can look forward to.
Flexibility and scalability
One of the primary advantages of using IBM watsonx in a multi-cloud environment is the ability to scale resources with demand. Businesses that deploy AI models and applications get access to more firepower when they need it, but then it automatically scales back during slower periods.
This flexibility ensures that companies can efficiently manage resources and costs while meeting stringent performance requirements. There’s no concern about expansion either; with watsonx on the cloud, you can enjoy this flexibility without worrying about growing pains.
Enhanced security and compliance
Cybersecurity is a significant concern for many businesses. A lack of adequate security could spell the difference between success and financial ruin. That’s why many companies use AI tools to help safeguard their information and protect what matters most. Forbes says, “Over half of business owners use artificial intelligence for cybersecurity and fraud management.” This is based on a survey pool of 600 businesses that were asked about how they incorporate AI tools.
In partnership with IBM Power Systems cybersecurity experts like Precisely and Fortra, CloudFirst uses AI to automate threat detection, response, patch management, and other cybersecurity tasks. This is included with all cloud hosting by default.
Industries bound by stringent regulations, such as healthcare and finance, can then maintain compliance without sacrificing the benefits of cloud computing. IBM watsonx’s robust security features further ensure that data is protected throughout its lifecycle, and Direct Connect protects data as it moves between clouds.
Improved performance and reduced latency
This direct link also boosts performance, which is crucial for AI applications that require realtime data processing and analysis. Enhanced connectivity ensures that AI models can quickly access and analyze large datasets, leading to more accurate insights that help you make smarter, more insightful decisions.
Never worry about data silos again.
Why cloud computing is necessary for optimizing a watsonx solution
Why is cloud computing a prerequisite for getting the most out of AI solutions like watsonx? Aside from the obvious benefits, there’s much to consider regarding the implementation of AI systems. For example, IBM watsonx will need different amounts of storage and processing power at different times. An IBM cloud environment won’t struggle with this, making it significantly easier for you to use AI freely.
Not only that, but cloud computing streamlines accessibility and collaboration between teams. This versatility helps remote team members work on projects with the same AI tools at their disposal that other employees have access to on site.
How to use IBM watsonx on Azure or AWS
Here’s the million-dollar question: How can you use IBM Power Systems, AI tools, and other cloud hosting services together without a blip in connection or communication? The short answer is IBM Cloud Direct Connect; it’s the safest and easiest way to connect and use IBM watsonx on AWS or Azure, for instance. The long answer involves understanding what measures you’ll need to take to give your new AI systems everything they need to succeed.
Provision adequate resources
You want to ensure your multi-cloud environment has enough resources to run AI tools effectively. Some necessary provisioning might include allocating a budget, spinning up more virtual machines, or buying more storage to help support your AI’s workload; it will vary based on your needs and use cases.
Train and deploy AI models
Watsonx has tools to help you train your AI models to do virtually anything you need. These tools include ways to create new models and train or check on existing ones. Some of watsonx’s most impressive tools involve using pre-built algorithms to customize your models to fulfill virtually any request. You can easily tweak parameters and make fast adjustments, sculpting your models until they’re exactly how you want them.
Monitor performance
AI is intelligent, but it’ll still need guidance to ensure optimal performance. With the introduction of IBM watsonx, you can use built-in tools to help monitor how your AI models are performing while simultaneously retraining or updating them as necessary. Some essential metrics, like accuracy and productivity, should always be invested in.
But depending on how you deploy your AI, you should also consider user satisfaction. This is vital to monitor if your AI interacts with customers, but it can also be valuable to check in with employees to see how they’re faring with these new systems.
A full-fledged AI solution with Cloud Direct Connect
Using AI in your daily operations is becoming non negotiable. But if you don’t have data to negotiate with, this becomes much more challenging.
Direct Connect pipes in data from multiple clouds for watsonx AI, no matter where it’s hosted. This means it can always access that data, regardless of where it’s stored. And with that, you’ll ensure you’re keeping up with the competition and continuing to innovate how your business operates.
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