IBM acquires Confluent for $11B cash in AI data infrastructure push

• IBM will acquire data streaming platform Confluent for $11 billion in an all-cash deal.
• The acquisition aims to boost IBM's AI-led enterprise infrastructure and offer a "smart data platform for enterprise IT, purpose-built for AI."
• Confluent specializes in real-time data streaming software, enabling instant processing of massive data volumes across cloud systems.
• The transaction is expected to close by mid-2026, subject to regulatory approvals; Confluent shares surged 26%, while IBM's stock fell slightly.
• This deal continues IBM's recent pattern of large, all-cash software acquisitions, including HashiCorp and Apptio.

Why It Matters: IBM's acquisition strengthens its AI data infrastructure, impacting enterprise tech.