Given IBM consultings genAI rollout, should CIOs rethink consulting strategies for 2025? [Video]

Although there are various factors in play, the most critical element is AI ownership. When does it make sense to use — and pay for — the consultant’s AI, and when does it make sense to force them to use yours?

Credit: Phonlamai Photo – shutterstock.com

When IBM this week introduced its genAI program for consulting, it didn’t reveal any meaningful differentiators when comparing its offerings to what every consulting firm, and enterprise, is already doing with genAI. But it did talk about cost implications, and implied that CIOs would be better off using the vendor’s systems, even with the Big Blue markup.

Analysts pointed to the argument as a key reason why CIOs need to put in place strict criteria and questions to help them determine, on a case-by-case basis, when it makes sense to pay for a partner’s AI systems and when it doesn’t.

Mohamad Ali, SVP and head of IBM Consulting, told …