▶IBM was a foundational and dominant force in the early personal computer industry, at one point comprising 80% of the tech industry's market capitalization.Feb–Apr 2026

▶The company's strategy for the original IBM PC, which involved outsourcing components and using non-exclusive software from Microsoft, directly enabled the rise of other industry giants like Dell and Microsoft.Apr 2026

▶IBM has strategically shifted its focus away from hardware, specifically semiconductor manufacturing, to prioritize systems, software, and services, a move recognized by departing talent as early as 2000.

▶The company is actively investing in next-generation technologies, including a $500 million enterprise AI venture fund, collaborations in quantum computing, and the major acquisition of Red Hat to bolster its hybrid cloud offerings.

▶Regarding its relevance in the AI era, some experts see IBM facing an 'existential threat' to its legacy business, while others point to its significant internal AI productivity gains, a large AI venture fund, and key role in the quantum ecosystem as signs of strength.

▶On strategic leadership, one claim points to a poor investment in NeXT by a former CEO as evidence of weak technical foresight, contrasting with the massive, forward-looking acquisition of Red Hat under current leadership.

▶The nature of IBM's corporate structure is viewed differently; it was once seen as bloated with 12 layers of management, yet its executives were later sought by Apple to instill crucial operational discipline.Apr 2026

▶While some sources highlight IBM's resilience and ability to survive multiple declarations of its demise, others point to the closure of its China R&D center and the departure of key talent as signs of ceding ground in critical technology areas.