Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: 💰 IBM announces fifth Power Systems price increase. RPGPGM.com celebrates 1,000 posts milestone.
AI: 🔒Open Secret: A secure alternative for AI (AI + Security). AI agents could revolutionize IBM i development. 🧞 Agentic AI tools accelerate enterprise adoption.
Career: 📖 Navigating the AI Revolution: An IBM i Developer’s Guide.
Leadership: 👥 Coaching styles impact employee development and success.
Learning: 🎓 IBM Power Skills Academy expands with new IBM i certifications.
Trends: 🚀 IBM i reveals transformative 2025 roadmap.

IBM i Brief

💰 IBM announces fifth Power Systems price increase

In a surprising move, IBM revealed another price hike for Power Systems and Storage products, effective April 1, 2025. This marks the fifth increase in just one year, with US customers facing up to 5% increases on Power E980 and E1050 systems, while storage solutions like DS8K and TS7700 will see 10% jumps globally. The changes affect multiple regions, with international markets experiencing additional 3% increases on certain systems.

RPGPGM.com celebrates 1,000 posts milestone

👏 The milestone underscores the growing depth of technical content and community engagement in the IBM i ecosystem — 12 years of continuous publishing.

AI

🔒Open Secret: A secure alternative for AI (AI + Security)

From outside the IBM i ecosystem comes a promising solution to AI and Security.

🔐 This is what is so magical about the IBM i platform in that with the right setup and tooling it can be interoperable with virtually any tech stack, platform, or open-source solution.

And it begs the question, is end-to-end encrypted AI chat here?

Maple.ai

What is Open Secret?

OpenSecret is a backend for app developers that turns private encryption on by default. When sensitive data is readable only by the user, it protects both the user and the developer, creating a more free and open internet.

How does it work?

Open Secret in their AI Cloud Platform protects sensitive data and ensures secure processing of confidential information by using a secure enclave.

A Secure Enclave is a isolated, tamper-proof environment that provides a secure space for sensitive data processing and storage. It’s a dedicated, hardware-based trusted execution environment (TEE) that operates independently of the main operating system and application software.

Open + Secret

Open: you can see the code that is running.
Secret: you can’t see the data

Could this technology solve one of the major barriers to enterprise AI adoption: data security?

Here is more information on the promise of end to end encrypted AI and Secure Enclaves.

AI agents could revolutionize IBM i development

Deloitte predicts 25% of AI-using companies will launch autonomous AI agents in 2025, rising to 50% by 2027. These agents, powered by advanced reasoning models like OpenAI’s o1, can execute tasks independently and write increasingly reliable code. With model distillation reducing training costs and AI code generation improving rapidly, the IBM i ecosystem faces both opportunities and challenges in adapting to this autonomous AI future.

🧞 Agentic AI tools accelerate enterprise adoption

Agentic AI = Autonomous AI that acts independently

As AI development gains momentum, organizations are seeking frameworks to expedite their AI initiatives. Rather than building from scratch, companies can leverage existing tools for chatbots, co-pilots, and agentic systems. While few organizations develop foundation models themselves, the focus shifts to implementing pre-built components and frameworks to create effective agentic workflows.

What does all this mean for the IBM i ecosystem?

We are in the beginning innings of AI in the enterprise.

After attending the WMCPA Spring Conference a couple weeks back, it is clear that the IBM i developer community, IBM and the enterprises that use the platform are in the discovery phase of the what and how can AI help developers be more productive, as well as how can AI be a useful solution to the enterprise without compromising the data that it relies upon.

(AI + Data) and (Security + Governance) will be the key topics to consider as we move forward.

Career

📖 Navigating the AI Revolution: An IBM i Developer’s Guide

AI is shaping the future of technology, the enterprise, the consumer market and your career.

Look at IBM’s home page; they are all in on AI.

What does AI mean for your career as an IBM i developer?

The reality is that AI is democratizing technology. Whether you’re a seasoned RPG developer or new to IBM i, your willingness to learn and adapt matters more than your background. Success isn’t about blindly implementing AI – it’s about thoughtful application and continuous learning.

Consider the emerging trends: We’re seeing AI agents that could revolutionize development practices, while questions of data security, governance and ethics become increasingly crucial. The platform’s future includes AI-enhanced capabilities and modernization tools, creating opportunities for those ready to embrace change.

Remember: RPG skills remain valuable. The key is combining traditional expertise with emerging technologies to drive innovation.

To take the first step towards embracing this change, here is a simple framework to get you started:

Framework for Learning AI as a Developer

Start with basics: Learn AI fundamentals and concepts. Here is an Intro to Machine Learning (a subset of AI)
Leverage existing skills: Apply RPG expertise to AI projects.
Explore emerging trends: Study AI agents, data security, and governance.
Combine traditional and emerging tech: Drive innovation with hybrid approach.
Continuous learning: Stay updated on AI advancements and best practices. Be curious and not afraid to do new things.

A Seasoned Developer’s Edge

What’s fascinating is that seasoned IBM i developers may actually have an advantage in this AI revolution.

Their years of experience solving complex business problems, deep understanding of enterprise systems, and ability to navigate mission-critical environments positions them perfectly to lead AI initiatives. While others may know the latest AI tools, seasoned developers bring something invaluable – the wisdom to know how, when, and where to apply these technologies effectively in a business context.

This combination of traditional expertise and openness to innovation isn’t just valuable – it’s irreplaceable.

Leadership

👥 Coaching styles impact employee development and success

Harvard Business Review outlines four distinct coaching approaches:

Instructive for new employees and urgent tasks
Hands-off for experienced team members
Asking/listening to encourage self-reflection
Collaborative for balanced growth.

Leaders must adapt their style based on each employee’s experience level and needs to effectively drive performance and professional development.

Learning

🎓 IBM Power Skills Academy expands with new IBM i certifications

IBM’s Power Skills Academy is enhancing its educational offerings with new IBM i focused content and certifications. The program provides free access to enterprise-grade courses and technology for “eligible educational institutions”. A new “IBM i Ready” digital badge has been introduced to help candidates demonstrate their foundational IBM i skills to potential employers.

Key highlights of the Power Skills Academy:

Free access to enterprise-level training materials and hands-on labs
Courses covering AIX, IBM i, and Linux on Power
New IBM i Ready digital credential
Connection opportunities with companies seeking IBM Power expertise

This initiative demonstrates IBM’s commitment to developing the next generation of IBM i professionals and addressing the skills gap in the marketplace.

Trends

🚀 IBM i reveals transformative 2025 roadmap

During a landmark strategic preview, IBM i Chief Architect Steve Will unveiled the platform’s ambitious direction for 2025, highlighting major upcoming releases and innovations. The roadmap includes AI-enhanced DB2 analytics, advanced security features, and the game-changing “migrate while active” capability. With increased focus on cloud integration, AI acceleration, and modernization tools, IBM i continues evolving to meet emerging enterprise needs while maintaining its core strengths.

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