Power 12 Roadmap Signals
Every publicly sourced signal about IBM's next Power generation, including IBM engineer commentary, analyst reporting, compiler traces, and current Power 11 moves that help frame the next refresh. None of these are confirmed Power 12 specifications.
Chiplet Hub-and-Spoke Architecture
IBM's post-Power11 generation is expected to move to a chiplet design -- but with a hub-and-spoke I/O layout instead of the centralized-I/O approach used by AMD.
Samsung Process Node & 2.5D Interposer Speculation
IBM is expected to use a mature Samsung process (5nm or 3nm class) for its post-Power11 chips rather than chasing the industry's bleeding-edge nodes -- a deliberate, stated strategy, not a limitation.
Three-Year Power Release Cadence
Power10 (2021) to Power11 (2025) is a four-year gap, but IBM's broader pattern -- and independent analysis -- points to a roughly three-year cadence going forward, putting a plausible Power12 window around 2027-2028.
IBM i 8.1 Lifecycle Alignment
IBM i 7.6 shipped April 2025; the next major release, IBM i 8.1 (internally referenced as IBM i Next), is projected for 2028 -- the same window analysts expect for Power12, and IBM has historically aligned major IBM i releases with new Power hardware generations.
AI Inference Continuity Signal
IBM has stated on the record that its Spyre-based AI acceleration strategy extends beyond Power11 -- the strongest single data point that Power12 inherits, and likely expands, on-chip and on-node AI inference.
Power S1112 Edge and AI Signal
IBM's July 2026 Power S1112 announcement does not reveal Power 12, but it shows IBM expanding Power 11 into smaller, AI-ready, branch and edge deployments while the next generation remains private.
Will Power 12 Need New FlashSystem Storage?
IBM has not announced a Power 12 storage architecture. Here is why that question matters less than it sounds, and what to actually do with a FlashSystem purchase today.