Technologies

IBM’s Krishna Cautions on Iran Tensions and Global Instability

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna cites geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty as reasons for cautious guidance, despite strong Q1 earnings and software growth.

International Business Machines CEO Arvind Krishna told Verum on Wednesday that the Iran war and other geopolitical uncertainty are leading the company to guide cautiously.
IBM beat analyst first-quarter earnings estimates on the top and bottom lines, but maintained guidance due to the macro uncertainty.
«Is there going to be an issue around oil as inflation goes up? Will that drive people to spend a bit less? If they spend a bit less, it’s not a direct impact on me, but a lot of consumer companies are my clients, like Walmart. If people are buying less at Walmart, they’re going to find a way to control their costs, so then they’ll buy less,» he said.
Krishna noted that despite the Iran conflict, IBM’s Middle East business did well.
The company reported first-quarter revenue of $15.92 billion, beating the $15.62 billion consensus estimate from LSEG. Earnings per share came in at an adjusted $1.91, 10 cents better than expectations. Software beat, with Red Hat growth rebounding to 10%.
Krishna said he is also cautious about growth concerns in Europe.
«That’s the only place where I think there is some squinting because it is also a little bit of jadedness, right? You had the COVID shocks, you had the Ukraine war. So they’ve gone through these shocks a few times, and they actually come out okay. I think this time around is an open question,» Krishna said.
«I don’t think anyone will know the answer for another month or two,» he added.
Mythos
Anthropic’s launch of its powerful new Mythos artificial intelligence model that is capable of finding security vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed and volume two weeks ago sent shockwaves throughout tech, but Krishna said others will soon follow.
«Somebody does a thing. It looks magical. It looks wonderful. We think it’s the only thing. Three months later, somebody copies it and actually does it better,» he said.
«I’d be surprised if somebody else hasn’t already done it but hasn’t bothered to claim it,» he added.
IBM shares plunged in April after the AI startup said its Claude Code tool could modernize legacy systems that run Common Business-Oriented Language. COBOL is a code system developed in the late 1950s that is regularly used in business data processing.
The release of Mythos triggered a surprise meeting between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Fed Chair Jerome Powell with the heads of the top U.S. banks over AI cyber concerns. Bessent and Vice President JD Vance held a call with tech CEOs like Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, xAI’s Elon Musk and others about the same matter.
«It’s a very big conversation, and there is no question that it can find and exploit vulnerabilities at a rate and pace that has not been seen so far,» Krishna said.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im