IBM Launches Three New AI Agents on Oracle’s (ORCL) Marketplace
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Story by Vince Condarcuri • 14h
IBM (IBM) has launched three new AI agents that are now available in Oracle’s AI Agent Marketplace. These agents are built to help Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications users handle routine tasks more efficiently. Developed using Oracle’s AI Agent Studio, the agents include an Intercompany Agent that automates reviewing agreements between company divisions, a Smart Sales Order Entry Agent that speeds up creating sales orders, and a Requisition to Contract Agent that helps turn purchase requests into contracts.
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Interestingly, Oracle’s Kaushal Kurapati said that the agents can help companies work faster and smarter. At the same time, IBM’s Neil Dhar added that by combining their strengths in AI and business systems, IBM and Oracle can help clients use AI to improve operations and stay competitive. IBM also plans to add more agents focused on HR and supply chain tasks.
These new tools will be built using IBM’s watsonx Orchestrate platform, which is designed to manage multiple AI agents across both Oracle and non-Oracle systems. In addition, the platform runs on Red Hat OpenShift AI and will help coordinate how agents work together. Finally, Oracle also plans to offer IBM’s Granite 4.0 AI models through its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Data Science platform. These updates show that IBM and Oracle are trying to make AI more useful and accessible for business users.
Copilot:
Yes, IBM initially underestimated the personal computer market, but the most famous quote—“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers”—came from IBM president Thomas Watson in 1943 and referred to mainframes, not PCs.
Here’s how the myth and reality diverge:
The Famous Quote: Misattributed to PCs
- In 1943, IBM president Thomas J. Watson reportedly said: “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
- This quote referred to room-sized mainframes, not personal computers, which didn’t exist yet.
- The statement is often cited as a blunder, but its authenticity is debated. Some historians argue it was apocryphal or taken out of context.
IBM’s Real PC Skepticism
- When IBM launched the IBM PC (Model 5150) in 1981, it was a hedged bet, not a full commitment.
- IBM’s internal culture saw PCs as low-margin, hobbyist tools, not strategic platforms.
- The PC division was isolated from IBM’s core business, and the company outsourced key components like the OS (to Microsoft) and BIOS (to third parties), which later enabled the clone market explosion.
Early Market Predictions
- In 1983, Byte Magazine predicted IBM would hold only 11% of business computer sales by 1990, with Commodore slightly ahead.
- IBM’s own forecasts were conservative, expecting modest adoption in business and education.
Outcome: Underrated Revolution
- IBM’s PC legitimized the market and set the standard for compatibility.
- Ironically, IBM’s open architecture and lack of control over software led to its loss of dominance by the late 1980s.
- By 2005, IBM exited the PC business entirely, selling it to Lenovo.
So while IBM didn’t explicitly say PCs would be niche, its early posture and conservative forecasts reflected a deep underestimation of the PC’s transformative potential.
Want to trace how IBM’s open architecture decision shaped the rise of Compaq, Dell, and Microsoft? That’s a fascinating thread. |
