# IBM targets AI edge with Power server, software upgrades > Source: > Published: 2026-07-15 18:31:33+00:00 IBM has bolstered its [Power](https://www.networkworld.com/article/4018955/ibm-pumps-up-ai-security-for-new-enterprise-power11-server-family.html) server portfolio with a new edge S1112 server and announced IBM Power Autonomous Operations, an AI agent that helps customers monitor Power systems and autonomously resolve issues to keep operations running smoothly. Additional software upgrades are aimed at helping customers deploy and manage [AI](https://www.networkworld.com/article/4131660/ibm-research-when-ai-and-quantum-merge.html) infrastructure components. “Each announcement addresses a different layer of the enterprise technology stack, from how infrastructure is deployed and managed to how applications are developed, modernized, and optimized,” wrote Brandon Pederson, senior IBM i product manager, in a [blog post](https://community.ibm.com/community/user/blogs/brandon-pederson1/2026/07/07/ibm-power-advancing-autonomous-it-ai-ready-infrast) about the new products. “Together, they reinforce a broader direction for IBM Power of helping clients move from manually operated infrastructure toward intelligent, resilient, and AI-assisted systems that are easier to manage, easier to modernize, and ready for new workloads.” The new [IBM Power S1112](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/power-s1112-server) is a one‑socket Power11 server engineered for IBM i, AIX, and Linux. Aimed at distributed and edge locations, it is Big Blue’s new entry-level i server and is AI‑ready by design, integrating on‑chip Matrix Math Acceleration (MMA) for fast inferencing and other AI‑driven use cases, such as support for AI-assisted decisions, automation, and analytics close to where data is generated and consumed, Pederson stated. The server supports two configurations: a 10-core 3.05 to 4.0 Ghz Power11 Processor in a rack version only, and a 4-core 3.60 to 4.0 Ghz Power11 in rack and tower form factors, IBM stated. “For IBM i clients, Power S1112 is especially important because it expands what entry IBM i environments can do. IBM i P05 clients can run IBM i partitions within the P05 software tier while also using additional system resources for AIX, Linux, VIOS, AI, or open-source workloads on the same server,” Pederson wrote. “This creates a flexible path to consolidate workloads, improve utilization, and support modernization without forcing clients into a larger platform than they need.” Thomas Prior for IBM On the software side, IBM Power Autonomous Operations offers automation capabilities via an embedded AI agent that offers natural language interactions designed to help customers manage, tune, and streamline their environments without relying on deep domain expertise for every task, Pederson stated. “IBM Power Autonomous Operations is designed to continuously monitor, optimize, protect, and manage Power environments. It combines Power telemetry, AI-powered analytics, automation, and operational workflows into a unified experience that helps IT teams reduce complexity, improve resiliency, and increase productivity,” Pederson wrote. “Rather than simply showing operators what is happening, Power Autonomous Operations is designed to help teams decide what to do next. The platform analyzes system telemetry, identifies risks and optimization opportunities, and provides intelligent recommendations or automated actions to improve performance, resiliency, and operational efficiency,” Pederson wrote. IBM also issued a [preview](https://community.ibm.com/community/user/blogs/brandon-pederson1/2026/07/07/ibm-power-advancing-autonomous-it-ai-ready-infrast) of the Agentic Engine for IBM i, which is aimed at providing greater AI support for Power systems. IBM described the Agentic Engine as a new enablement layer designed to make it easier to adopt native and integrated AI agents into IBM i workloads and business processes. The engine provides the runtime, IBM i Knowledge Pack, observability, extensibility, MCP server, and foundational agents that help teams build trusted agents for IBM i without starting from scratch. Developers can build agents using their preferred coding tools, run them close to Db2 for i data under native IBM i object-level authority, and extend them into broader enterprise workflows through APIs and agent-to-agent integration. With security, governance, and instrumentation built in, the Agentic Engine for IBM i helps organizations manage agent behavior, monitor activity, and support responsible adoption across mission-critical environments, Pederson stated. Also in the AI agent vein, IBM announced support for its [Bob AI](https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-07-09-ibm-advances-enterprise-ai-software-development-with-multi-agent-capabilities-and-specialized-modernization-workflows) application development environment for the i system. The idea here is to help customers quickly modernize applications built on RPG and COBOL. “These capabilities help developers explain complex RPG and COBOL programs, convert Fixed-Format RPG to modern Free-Format RPG, refactor monolithic applications into modular structures, generate RPG, CL, COBOL and DDS code, create technical documentation, and produce unit tests to support validation,” Pederson wrote. “Rather than relying on generic prompts and inconsistent results, IBM i teams can use expert-built skills that deliver more predictable, repeatable and higher-quality outcomes. Agentic workflows help guide multi-step development tasks from understanding and planning through implementation and validation, allowing developers to modernize incrementally without losing control.” IBM also added new development features to the core operating system for i with [IBM i 7.6 Technology Refresh 2](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/i-76-technology-refresh-2-driving-modern-secure-more-accessible-innovation) and i 7.5 Technology Refresh 8 that include a variety of features designed to enhance RPG and COBOL development, security, and hybrid cloud integration. IBM Power S1112 is expected to be generally available on July 24, IBM Power Autonomous Operations is expected to be generally available on September 23, 2026, and IBM Bob Premium Package for i was made generally available on June 24, 2026.