IBM backs model routing to steer AI workloads across providers as costs and performance shift

Investment focus shifts to open technologies, workload portability and hybrid operations to reduce lock-in and preserve flexibility for rapid model changes.

Operational plans target faster capital reallocation, process redesign and workforce reskilling to match new AI capabilities and cost curves.

IBM Consulting flagged model routing as a core planning priority to keep AI deployments portable as model performance and pricing shift.

The strategy centers on a hybrid AI approach using smaller customized models alongside foundation models, with most organizations expected to pivot by 2030.