AI

JCB and IBM Japan Forge AI Partnership to Modernize Core Banking Systems, Signaling Shift in Japanese Enterprise IT

In a significant development for Japan’s enterprise technology landscape, JCB Co., Ltd., one of Japan’s major credit card networks, and IBM Japan have announced a strategic partnership to leverage generative AI in the development and modernization of JCB’s core mission-critical systems. The collaboration, disclosed in December 2025, reflects a broader trend of Japanese corporations embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to transform legacy infrastructure, improve development productivity, and compete more effectively in a digital economy. Under the terms of the agreement, JCB will adopt IBM’s leading generative AI technologies, notably the 'watsonx' AI platform, across its system development lifecycle, including design, coding, testing, and quality assurance. The goal is to achieve higher development efficiency, better code quality, and faster time-to-market for core financial systems that serve millions of cardholders and merchant partners…