IBM Brings Machine Learning to the Private Cloud

ARMONK, N.Y., Feb. 15, 2017

IBM has extracted the core machine learning technology from IBM Watson and will initially make it available where much of the world's enterprise data resides: the z System mainframe, the operational core of global organizations where billions of daily transactions are processed by banks, retailers, insurers, transportation firms and governments.

IBM Machine Learning allows data scientists to automate the creation, training and deployment of operational analytic models that will support:

• Any language (eg. Scala, Java, Python),
• Any popular Machine Learning framework like (eg. Apache SparkML, TensorFlow, H2O)
• Any transactional data type
• Without the cost, latency or risk of moving data off premise.

IBM Machine Learning also for the first time deploys Cognitive Automation for Data Scientists from IBM Research to assist data scientists in choosing the right algorithm for the data by scoring their data against the available algorithms and providing the best match for their needs. The service also considers various circumstances – such as what the algorithm is needed to do and how fast it needs to produce results.

Clients are beginning to see the value in IBM Machine Learning for z/OS. Argus Health, a DST company, is evaluating this technology to help payers and providers better manage the increasing complexities and optimize outcomes. Argus is testing scenarios applying IBM Machine Learning for z/OS, while exploring creation, training and deployment of applications that can help them better manage pharmacy costs. By using this technology, Argus hopes to continue creating unique solutions that leverage insights from advanced analytics with members across various scenarios including the point of care in both, the doctor's office and the pharmacy.

"Helping our health plan clients achieve the best clinical and financial outcomes by getting the best care delivered at the best price in the most appropriate place is the mission of Argus while focused on the vision of becoming preeminent in providing pharmacy and healthcare solutions," said Marc Palmer, President of Argus Health. "We are excited about the possibilities and the potential we have seen from IBM Machine Learning working in concert with our RxNova claims processing platform, clinical solutions, and applied analytics in creating models that are constantly improving by using new data and enabling real-time results to the benefit of members, their caregivers and physicians."

"Machine Learning and deep learning represent new frontiers in analytics. These technologies will be foundational to automating insight at the scale of the world's critical systems and cloud services," said Rob Thomas, General Manager, IBM Analytics. "IBM Machine Learning was designed leveraging our core Watson technologies to accelerate the adoption of machine learning where the majority of corporate data resides. As clients see business returns on private cloud, they will expand for hybrid and public cloud implementations."