IBM yesterday joined an increasing number of tech giants that have announced significant U.S. investment plans. The company plans to spend some $150 billion in America over the next five years, including more than $30 billion earmarked for R&D to advance IBM's mainframe and quantum computer domestic manufacturing.
The company says it operates the world's largest fleet of quantum computer systems and will continue to design, build and assemble these computers in Poughkeepsie, New York.
The U.S.-made mainframes are a critical component of American and global economies. IBM says more than 70% of the entire world's transactions—by value—run through its mainframes.
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IBM believes quantum computing is one of the biggest economic opportunities in decades and will solve problems that conventional computers cannot process.
In a statement, IBM Chairman Arvind Krishna said, "Technology doesn't just build the future, it defines it." He adds that IBM has been focused on American jobs and manufacturing since it was founded 114 years ago. The investment should help IBM keep pace with computing and AI technology advancements.
IBM is one of the nation's largest tech employers, and the company claims to have more than 300,000 employees spread across some 170 countries.
IBM joins a growing list of tech companies investing in American manufacturing. In April, Nvidia announced that it would invest at least $100 billion—and up to half a trillion dollars—to make AI supercomputers in Texas.
Earlier this year, Apple too pledged to spend some $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, including a server assembly facility in Houston that could create thousands of jobs.
Though not all is rose-colored in big tech as chip giant Intel last week announced a cost-cutting plan that will likely include significant layoffs
IEN reached out to IBM for more details about the manufacturing investment, but the company did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
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