IBM CEO says generalized AI 'still a long time away,' wants focus on near-term value

We are excited to bring Transform 2022 back in-person July 19 and virtually July 20 - 28. Join AI and data leaders for insightful talks and exciting networking opportunities. Eleven years after IBM Watson wowed the tech world by beating two of Jeopardy's biggest champions, the days of tackling "moonshot" AI goals outside the research lab are over, IBM chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna told reporters yesterday, ahead of the annual IBM Think conference in Boston. "I don't want us to work only on'moonshots,'" he said. "That should be research you work with in the lab." Instead, he said IBM's focus will be firmly on AI projects that provide near-term value for clients, adding that he believes generalized artificial intelligence is "still a long time away."