When I sat down with Leon Butler, the newly appointed CEO of IBM UK and Ireland, it felt like a timely check-in with one of the most influential forces in enterprise technology. Having taken on the role in January 2025 after leading IBM’s global data and AI division, Leon brings both technical depth and a clear strategic lens to what lies ahead. Our conversation couldn’t have been better timed, following the IBM Think conference and the company’s latest wave of announcements around agentic AI, enterprise models, and quantum computing.
Leon offered an inside look at how IBM is responding to real-world business challenges with purpose-built, domain-specific AI tools. While the industry often gravitates toward large, generic models, IBM has chosen a different route, focusing on smaller, more efficient models that deliver measurable business outcomes. Their Granite model family and WatsonX orchestrate platform are helping companies streamline complex workflows, boost productivity, and integrate AI into operations without adding more layers of complexity.
We also explored how AI agents are evolving from basic chat interfaces into tools that can coordinate multi-step processes across HR, procurement, and customer service. Leon shared concrete examples from inside IBM, including how their own HR systems are now 94 percent automated through AI agents. The company has also achieved over $2 billion in productivity gains through AI and automation internally, a figure that sets a strong precedent for its clients.
Our conversation also touched on IBM’s quantum roadmap, with expectations that their systems will surpass today’s most powerful supercomputers by 2033 and reach error-free capability by 2029. Alongside this, IBM is pushing forward with a global commitment to close the AI skills gap, aiming to equip 2 million people with AI skills by 2026.
How does a company of IBM’s scale remain agile while reshaping industries with AI and quantum computing? This conversation offers a glimpse into the strategy, leadership, and technology shaping that future.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.