IBM and Microsoft have launched Imagine Enterprise, a joint platform for building, running and governing AI agents that handle industry-specific work in regulated sectors. Announced on November 10, 2026, it combines more than 6,000 AI agents and assets from IBM Consulting with Microsoft's AI, data and security cloud, starting with financial services, insurance and retail. It is sold as a consulting-led service rather than an off-the-shelf product, and pricing was not disclosed.
IBM and Microsoft's Imagine Enterprise, the key facts:
- What it is: an "agentic" platform to build, run and govern AI agents across business processes.
- Who it is for: large companies in regulated industries.
- First industries: financial services, insurance and retail, with manufacturing, energy, public sector and mobility planned.
- What is inside: IBM Consulting Advantage plus Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio, GitHub Copilot, Fabric, Entra, Purview, Defender and Azure.
- How to buy: through IBM Consulting, either fully managed or co-built. No price or general availability date was given.
What Is Imagine Enterprise?
According to the joint announcement, Imagine Enterprise is designed to connect AI agents (software that can carry out multi-step tasks on its own) to a company's data, systems and daily workflows, with controls for security, observability and AI compliance built in.
The companies highlight three selling points:
- Prebuilt industry expertise: more than 6,000 AI agents and assets from IBM Consulting.
- Fit with existing systems: it connects to a company's current data and processes, with enterprise security, identity and governance.
- Shared enterprise knowledge: it links business knowledge, data and context across people and agents.
What Each Company Brings
| IBM | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| IBM Consulting Advantage, its AI delivery platform, including Process Studio, Context Studio and Advantage Core | Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio and GitHub Copilot to build and orchestrate agents |
| Industry frameworks and more than 6,000 agents and assets | Microsoft Fabric for data and Microsoft 365 infrastructure |
| Consultants and forward-deployed engineers for qualifying projects | Entra (identity), Purview (data governance), Defender (security) and Azure cloud |
Notably, the release does not mention IBM's own watsonx AI platform. The technical foundation is Microsoft's cloud, while IBM provides the consulting, industry content and delivery tools.
What the Executives Said
Mohamad Ali, senior vice president and head of IBM Consulting, said: "Clients are no longer looking for AI that simply helps people do the same work a little faster." Rodrigo Kede Lima, president of Microsoft's Frontier Company, said: "Enterprise AI will be won by organizations that can turn their data, industry expertise and AI into action."
The only customer named is SEI, a financial technology, operations and asset management provider, which is exploring agentic technology with the two companies. Sneha Shah, SEI's chief AI strategist, said: "AI is evolving quickly, and our focus at SEI is on applying it with intention in ways that strengthen trust."
Why It Matters
Most large companies have run AI pilots, but turning them into reliable, audited processes is harder, especially in banking and insurance, where every automated decision may face regulators. Imagine Enterprise is a bet that buyers want a packaged combination of consulting, prebuilt industry agents and governance, rather than building everything themselves.
For Microsoft, the deal pushes more enterprise AI workloads onto Azure and its Copilot tools. For IBM, it strengthens a consulting business that increasingly sells AI transformation projects. It also shows rivals in cloud and consulting increasingly partnering, rather than competing, on enterprise AI.
Questions remain. The companies did not give prices, timelines or measurable results, and only one prospective customer was named. Businesses evaluating it should ask for evidence from live deployments, clear data ownership terms and an exit plan before committing.
For more on enterprise AI adoption, see our report on AI returns in the enterprise and our coverage of cybersecurity compliance for mid-sized firms.
FAQs
What is IBM and Microsoft's Imagine Enterprise?
A joint platform to build, run and govern AI agents for industry-specific processes, using IBM Consulting's assets and Microsoft's cloud, AI and security tools.
Which industries does Imagine Enterprise support?
Financial services, insurance and retail first, with manufacturing, energy, the public sector and mobility planned.
How much does Imagine Enterprise cost?
Pricing was not disclosed. It is delivered through IBM Consulting engagements.
Checked on November 11, 2026, against the joint IBM and Microsoft announcement.