Enterprise-grade agentic AI took center stage as e& and IBM announced a new partnership in Davos. The companies revealed the move during the World Economic Forum meeting. The project shows e& shifting from basic chat tools to advanced systems. These systems now support key governance and compliance work across the company.
The announcement came on January 19, 2026, in Davos and Dubai. e& and IBM said they will build a strong agentic AI base for enterprise use. First, they will focus on policy, risk, and compliance tasks. As a result, e& plans to embed AI directly into daily decision processes.
Unlike earlier chatbot tools, this enterprise-grade agentic AI can take guided actions. It can also explain its results clearly. IBM powers the solution through watsonx Orchestrate. The platform offers hundreds of ready tools and custom agents. These features help staff review rules and laws faster.
Moreover, the system connects with IBM OpenPages and other watsonx products. This setup ensures responses stay clear and traceable. Employees and auditors can now find compliance answers with confidence. Therefore, the company reduces confusion and delays in critical reviews.
During development, IBM, Gulf Business Machines, and e& completed a proof of concept. The team finished the work within eight weeks. They tested the system under real business conditions. The results showed the AI could handle large-scale enterprise demands without losing control.
IBM’s Client Engineering team led the design work. At the same time, Gulf Business Machines supported delivery and coordination. Their deep knowledge of e& systems helped speed progress. Together, they proved that agentic AI can move beyond simple questions.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, said the goal reaches beyond small AI uses. He explained that e& wants trusted and governed AI across operations. By working with IBM, the company now embeds intelligence into risk processes. This shift supports faster decisions and consistent rule use.
In addition, IBM watsonx Orchestrate allows AI agents to plan tasks and act. These agents work within strict controls set by the company. For e&, this means clear and explainable results. The system also supports round-the-clock access for staff across departments.
The initiative also fits with watsonx.governance, which e& already uses. This alignment ensures strong oversight from the start. By placing agentic AI inside the OpenPages platform, e& leads early adoption in the region. Human decision makers remain in control at all times. This development reflects broader Enterprise AI market growth.
Ana Paula Assis, IBM’s regional chair, highlighted the importance of trust. She said accountability matters as much as smart technology. Through this project, IBM aims to show safe AI use at scale. The collaboration supports careful and responsible decisions.
Finally, the deployment marks a key step in e&’s AI journey. Consequently, the company now holds a scalable and governed foundation for future growth. Furthermore, by placing action-based AI into core workflows, e& strengthens responsible innovation. As a result, this move sets a new regional standard for enterprise-grade agentic AI.
