On January 13, 2026, Kyndryl and Wayne State University inaugurated a multi-year collaboration to establish the IntelliMake research hub and pilot-scale factory within the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering. Kyndryl will co-develop and demonstrate intelligent, agentic AI manufacturing technologies on campus, hosting joint workshops on AI, cybersecurity and digital twins, and creating hands-on demonstration pods. According to Kyndryl’s 2025 Readiness Report, 87% of business leaders expect AI to reshape jobs within a year, yet only 29% feel their workforce is prepared. IntelliMake’s first phase will integrate advanced computing with modular orchestration to showcase autonomous manufacturing and assembly lines that detect, adapt to and recover from disruptions, reducing scrap and rework by up to 20% and delivering real-time insights to empower frontline workers. The initiative aims to position Detroit and Michigan at the forefront of a projected $10 trillion smart manufacturing opportunity by combining Kyndryl Bridge for end-to-end infrastructure monitoring with resilient, people-centered innovation.

In its January 12, 2026 release of the 2025 Retail Readiness Report, Kyndryl reveals that 48% of retail leaders have significantly upgraded IT infrastructure and increased AI investments by 33% over the past 12 months, yet nearly 25% cite technical debt as a major constraint. With more than 80% of retail sales still occurring in physical stores, only 15% of executives believe they leverage omnichannel systems to full potential, while the remainder face fragmented digital add-ons and manual workflows. The report warns that one-third of mission-critical networks, storage and servers are at end-of-service, delaying innovation for nearly half of respondents. Moreover, 89% of retail leaders predict complete transformation of job roles within 12 months due to AI, but only 33% are actively upskilling affected employees. Kyndryl warns that success in the $30 trillion global retail market will depend on unifying legacy systems, embedding responsible agentic AI within clear governance structures, and refocusing on operational fundamentals such as inventory precision and store-level agility.