Gartner warns AI overreach in mainframe migrations, IBM, Deloitte and Red Hat launch Lightwell security partnership

Gartner cautions that more than 70% of AI‑driven mainframe exit projects slated for 2026 are likely to fail because organizations over‑estimate generative AI’s ability to accelerate migration. The firm says reliance on AI without strong planning can cause cost overruns, technical debt, delays and risks to mission‑critical systems. It cites successful examples at JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley where AI was combined with governance and human expertise, and predicts that by 2030, three‑quarters of mainframe‑exit vendors will change or exit their business models.

In parallel, IBM, Red Hat and Deloitte have announced a collaboration on the Lightwell platform to strengthen open‑source software supply‑chain security. Lightwell will decouple security remediation from traditional upgrade cycles by delivering validated patches directly to the specific software versions in use, reducing disruption while protecting critical systems from quickly emerging AI‑powered threats.