IBM and Microsoft Launch Imagine Enterprise AI Agent Platform for Industry-Specific Transformation

Image: Illustrative image · Thomas Nugent  · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source

IBM and Microsoft have introduced Imagine Enterprise, a platform enabling enterprises to rapidly build, run, and govern AI agents tailored to industry-specific workflows, emphasizing security and integration with existing systems.

On November 10, 2026, IBM and Microsoft jointly announced Imagine Enterprise, a novel agentic platform designed to help enterprises accelerate the deployment of AI agents tailored to specific industry processes. This collaboration leverages IBM Consulting’s extensive experience—including more than 6,000 pre-built AI agents and assets—and Microsoft’s AI, cloud, and security technologies, offering organizations, particularly in regulated sectors, a way to combine human expertise with AI-driven automation while maintaining strong governance and compliance controls.

Imagine Enterprise is built to integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise data, processes, and systems, enabling companies to start deploying AI solutions without replacing current technologies or long lead times. The platform emphasizes three core advantages: Instant Expertise, with a large library of industry-specific pre-built AI agents; Enterprise Compatibility, allowing adaptation within existing infrastructures with embedded security and governance; and Intelligence Multiplication, connecting AI agents and human experts to enterprise knowledge and context for more effective decision-making.

Microsoft provides foundational technologies such as Microsoft Foundry, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft 365 infrastructure, Microsoft Entra, Purview, Defender, and Azure to support AI governance, security, identity management, data integration, and cloud infrastructure. IBM Consulting supports organizations with tools including Process Studio and Context Studio to design, deploy, and manage AI agents tailored to individual business needs.

SEI, a global financial technology and asset management firm, is among the first clients exploring Imagine Enterprise, aiming to leverage agentic technologies to improve operational efficiency and enhance employee and client experiences responsibly. SEI’s Chief AI Strategist highlighted that the partnership enables the company to blend emerging technology with deep industry knowledge to drive scalable and trust-enhancing AI solutions.

According to IBM Consulting, the collaboration with Microsoft facilitates enterprises moving from pilot AI projects to scaled production deployments that integrate digital labor and human expertise, ultimately converting AI from merely enhancing productivity to creating a competitive advantage. Microsoft emphasizes that industry-specific AI solutions that connect data, expertise, and AI capability will be decisive for enterprise success.

Initially, Imagine Enterprise targets industries such as financial services, insurance, and retail, with blueprints planned for expansion into manufacturing, energy, public sector, and mobility among others. The platform is available through IBM Consulting engagements offering full deployment and operational support or co-innovation projects, with self-management options also provided.

More details are available at IBM’s consulting website dedicated to Imagine Enterprise. The joint platform reflects IBM and Microsoft’s commitment to accelerating enterprise AI adoption with a focus on security, compliance, and business relevance.