IBM unveils dual-architecture processor that runs Arm and Z code side by side

IBM revealed plans for a dual-architecture processor fabricated on a two-nanometer node, equipped with 11 cores running faster than 5.7 GHz and built-in AI inference accelerators for transaction-level fraud detection. Each core can natively handle Arm instructions together with IBM Z or LinuxONE code, aiming to bridge the gap between mainframe reliability and the broader Arm ecosystem. The chip also includes a specialized on-chip data-processing unit to speed up I/O and a large cache for heavy enterprise tasks.

IBM’s Vice President for the zSystems Ecosystem, Meredith Stowell, highlighted the 22 million-plus Arm developers worldwide as a growth opportunity. Analysts such as George Cozma see the move as an attempt to make IBM’s mainframe platform more attractive to modern cloud and AI workloads while preserving its traditional strengths. The processor is slated for introduction in 2028, likely powering the next-generation z18 system.