IBM said today it is buying data platform provider Confluent for $11 billion in cash, strengthing its AI service offerings as demand for the technology continues to grow.
Confluent provides an open-source enterprise data streaming platform that “connects, processes and governs reusable and reliable data and events in real time, foundational for the deployment of AI,” IBM said in a press release. Confluent serves 40% of the Fortune 500.
IBM and Confluent will offer end-to-end integration of applications, analytics, data systems and AI agents to enterprise customers.
“The real-time nature of Confluent’s platform is critical for organizations as they leverage data living across all IT environments,” according to IBM. Confluent “excels at preparing data for AI, keeping it clean and connected across systems and applications, eliminating silos inherent in agentic AI.”
The transaction is expected to close by mid-2026.