Today, with the rapid development of AI technology, the landscape of the software industry is also changing subtly. Recently, AI company Anthropic launched a new tool aimed at significantly reducing the cost for companies to maintain COBOL systems. This news caused IBM's stock price to drop sharply, falling 13% on Monday to $223.35 per share.

COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) is a programming language developed in the 1950s, widely used in commercial data processing, especially in finance and aviation sectors. In fact, COBOL is the core supporting language for 95% of ATM transactions and critical systems in the United States. However, as time progresses, skilled professionals who understand COBOL are becoming increasingly rare, leading to significant cost pressures for companies maintaining these systems.

IBM has long been a major promoter of COBOL technology, and one of its core businesses is selling mainframe systems, which typically rely on COBOL for efficient transaction processing. Facing the new tool introduced by Anthropic, IBM's traditional business model has been directly impacted. Anthropic's Claude model uses AI technology to quickly identify system risks that would take months for humans to find, while modernizing legacy code at a very low cost. This innovation greatly improves the cost-effectiveness of maintaining old code for companies.

The release of this technology has clearly changed the way the industry handles legacy systems, prompting many companies relying on COBOL to reconsider their maintenance strategies. IBM apparently failed to foresee the speed and depth of this change, causing investors to worry about its future market performance, resulting in significant stock price fluctuations.

As AI technology gradually becomes a key driver for transformation across industries, IBM's challenges are intensifying. In the future, whoever can seize the opportunity in this technological revolution may stand out in the competition.

Key Points:

🌟 The AI tool launched by Anthropic significantly reduces the cost of COBOL maintenance, directly impacting IBM's core business.

📉 IBM's stock price fell 13% due to market concerns, reflecting a crisis of confidence in the traditional business model.

🚀 AI technology is redefining the future of the software industry, and companies need to adapt quickly to maintain competitiveness.