John E. Kelly III

Timeline

1. 1976–1980

   Physics at Union and RPI

   He earns a bachelor's degree in physics at Union College in 1976, where he does undergraduate research in X-ray fluorescence with his adviser, Professor Dennis Pilcher. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he completes a master's degree in physics in 1978 and a doctorate in materials engineering in 1980.

2. 1980–2000

   Semiconductors at IBM

   He joins IBM in 1980 and holds management and technical positions in the development and manufacturing of its advanced semiconductor technologies. In 1990, he becomes director of IBM's Semiconductor Research and Development Center; in 2000, he is named senior vice president and group executive of IBM's Technology Group, responsible for microelectronics and storage.

3. July 2007

   Director of IBM Research

   In July 2007, after serving as senior vice president of Technology and Intellectual Property, he succeeds Paul Horn as senior vice president and director of IBM Research. Under his leadership, IBM Research adds four labs, including IBM's first in Africa, South America and Australia, and grows to about 3,000 scientists and technical employees in 12 laboratories across 10 countries.

4. 2011

   Watson's Jeopardy! win

   With his support, his team at IBM Research advances the science of AI and cognitive computing through Watson, which defeats two standing Jeopardy! champions in 2011. Many in the industry describe him as the "father" of Watson.

5. 2013

   Smart Machines and the NAE

   In 2013, he and IBM writer Steve Hamm publish Smart Machines: IBM's Watson and the Era of Cognitive Computing, a book that introduces cognitive systems to general readers. The National Academy of Engineering elects him a member in 2013 for contributions to the U.S. semiconductor industry and gives him its Arthur M. Bueche Award in October 2013.

6. By 2018

   Leading Cognitive Solutions

   By June 2018, he is IBM's senior vice president for cognitive solutions and IBM Research, with a portfolio that includes IBM Watson, analytics, security and the company's intellectual property team. Under his leadership, IBM extends Watson into health, security, analytics, the Internet of Things and financial services.

7. 2020

   The Rome Call and retirement

   In February 2020, he signs the Rome Call for AI Ethics in Rome as one of its first signatories, with Microsoft president Brad Smith and Vincenzo Paglia of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and announces that the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù children's hospital will use Watson to research child brain cancer. IBM asks him in late February 2020 to build and direct its COVID-19 Task Force. He retires from IBM in December 2020 as the executive vice president leading its Watson Health unit, after more than 40 years at the company.

8. Since 2024

   Co-founding Global AI

   He co-founds Global AI in 2024 and serves as its chairman and chief technical officer. In November 2025, the New York-based AI infrastructure company announces a partnership with Saudi Arabia's HUMAIN to build large-scale AI data centers and compute capacity in the United States. Elected in December 2022, he also chairs the Board of Trustees of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he has been a trustee since 2010.