IBM teams up with e& to bolster AI governance and regulatory adherence structure
The technology giants, e& and IBM, have announced a partnership to deploy an innovative, end-to-end AI and Generative AI governance solution using IBM's Watsonx.governance platform. This collaboration was unveiled at the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos.
The primary aim of this collaboration is to enhance e&'s AI governance framework, ensuring compliance, oversight, and ethical practices across its growing AI ecosystem. The partnership reinforces robust governance, risk management, and regulatory oversight of AI usage.
IBM's Watsonx.governance: A Comprehensive AI Governance Tool
IBM's Watsonx.governance serves as a comprehensive tool for AI governance. It integrates advanced capabilities including security and risk management of AI systems. The solution offers:
- Unified control over AI risk and compliance
- Oversight of autonomous AI agents, including auditing and detection of unauthorized or shadow agents
- Integration with IBM Guardium AI Security, which secures AI models, data, and their utilization
Benefits for e&'s AI Ecosystem
The benefits for e&’s AI ecosystem include:
- Promoting ethical, transparent, and responsible AI practices
- Supporting regulatory compliance requirements in AI deployment
- Enhancing risk management by providing comprehensive governance and security tools
- Facilitating safe scaling and adoption of multi-model AI solutions and Generative AI within the organization
This collaboration positions e& as a leader in AI governance, particularly in the UAE region, which is emerging as a front-runner in AI adoption and regulation. It also aligns with IBM’s broader vision of making AI trustworthy and "sticky" in enterprise operations by embedding governance deeply into AI workflows.
IBM Consulting's Role in the Collaboration
IBM Consulting will work closely with e& to design and implement a custom AI governance framework. The solution supports full traceability and oversight through a centralized inventory of AI models.
The development process will utilise various techniques such as persona and journey mapping, market research, architecture patterns for AI integration, and knowledge transfer materials. The collaboration will also leverage IBM Consulting Advantage, an AI-powered delivery platform, for accelerated development.
The new AI governance solution introduces advanced features like automated risk management, compliance monitoring, and real-time performance analysis. It is expected to empower e& to monitor current AI use cases in real-time, manage potential AI risks in production, and deliver measurable value to stakeholders.
The collaboration aims to enhance e&’s AI governance framework for compliance, oversight, and ethical practices, setting a new standard for responsible and scalable AI operations for the group and industry at large.
References
[1] IBM Watsonx.governance: https://www.ibm.com/watson/ai/governance [2] e& and IBM Collaborate on AI Governance: https://www.eand.ae/en/newsroom/press-releases/e-and-ibm-collaborate-on-ai-governance [3] MENA's AI Advantage: Opportunity to Leap Ahead and Lead: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/mena-ai-advantage [4] IBM's Vision for Trustworthy AI: https://www.ibm.com/trust/ai
In this partnership, IBM's Watsonx.governance tool will serve as a comprehensive AI governance solution for enhancing e&'s AI compliance framework, encompassing security, risk management, and ethical practices. The collaboration will also boost e&'s AI ecosystem by promoting ethical AI practices, supporting regulatory compliance, enhancing risk management, and facilitating safe scaling of AI solutions. This strategic alliance places e& at the forefront of AI governance in the UAE region, aligning with IBM's broader vision of making AI trustworthy and pervasive in enterprise operations.
