IBM’s next-gen mainframe chip is the first to run Arm and Z workloads on the same cores

IBM announced a next-generation mainframe processor for IBM Z and LinuxONE systems whose 11 cores can natively switch between IBM Z and Arm instruction sets in nanoseconds. The design lets enterprises run Arm-native Linux software, including AI frameworks, alongside traditional z/OS transaction workloads used by banks, insurers, and governments.

The chip signals IBM’s push to keep mainframes relevant as enterprise infrastructure shifts toward Arm-based software ecosystems and AI workloads. By making every core dual-architecture rather than adding separate Arm cores, IBM is betting on hybrid computing that modernizes legacy systems without forcing customers to move critical workloads off mainframes.