IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Artificial Intelligence and Automation 2025 Predictions

Description

The IDC study provides IDC's top 10 predictions for artificial intelligence and automation in 2025 and beyond."AI agents are set to revolutionize various industries by enhancing efficiency, improving customer experiences, and enabling new business models," says Ritu Jyoti, GVP/GM, AI and Data Research at IDC. "With technological innovations, responsible technology usage, and workplace transformation, AI adoption barriers will continue to diminish, mitigate barriers, and transform an enterprise operating model."

Product Code: US51666724

IDC FutureScape Figure

Executive Summary

IDC FutureScape Predictions

Summary of External Drivers
Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers
- Prediction 1: By 2026, 90% of Enterprise Use Cases for LLMs Will Be Dedicated to Training SLMs Because of Cost, Performance, and Expanded Deployment Options
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 2: By 2027, AI Adoption Barriers Will Become Indistinct Due to AI Infrastructure Commoditization, Advanced LC/NC Tools, and Security Frameworks, Leading to Reduction of AI Build Costs by Nearly 80%
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 3: By 2026, 20% of Frustrated Knowledge Workers With No Development Experience Will Take Charge of Transforming How They Work by Building Their Own Agentic Workflows, Improving Cycle Times by 40%
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 4: By 2025, 50% of Organizations Will Use Enterprise Agents Configured for Specific Business Functions, Instead of Focusing on Individual Copilot Technologies to Achieve Faster Business Value from AI
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 5: By 2028, 80% of Foundation Models Used for Production-Grade Use Cases Will Include Multimodal AI Capabilities to Deliver Improved Use Case Support, Accuracy, Depth of Insights, and Intermode Context
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 6: By 2028, 80% of RAG Implementations Will Be Embedded in Generative AI-Based Features and Products, Increasing Standardization and Transparency About the Use of Contextual Data for Such Applications
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 7: By 2028, 80% of Foundation Models Used by Enterprises Will Be From a Maximum of Three Providers as the Market Will Consolidate Due to Unsustainable Business Models
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 8: By 2026, 65% of Enterprises Will Adopt Hybrid Edge-Cloud Inferencing as Organizations Fully Integrate Edge into the Cloud Infrastructure and Management Strategy
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 9: By 2027, a Third of New AI Applications Will Contain a Diversified Set of Chained Traditional and GenAI Models and Business Rules, Outpacing the Development of New Singular AI Model Applications
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance
- Prediction 10: By 2027, 80% of Critical AI Decisions Will Require Human Oversight Supported by Visual Explainability Dashboards, Potentially Slowing Processes but Enhancing Accountability
  - Associated Drivers
  - IT Impact
  - Guidance

Advice for Technology Buyers

External Drivers: Detail

AI-Driven Business Models - Moving from AI Experimentation to Monetization
The Drive to Automate - Toward a Data-Driven Future
Future Proofing Against Environmental Risks - ESG Operationalization and Risk Management
AI-Driven Workplace Transformation - Building Tomorrow's Workforce Today
Regulatory Flux - Navigating Compliance Challenges in a Shifting Policy Landscape
Responsible and Human-Centric Technology - Ethics in the Enterprise
Battling Against Technical Debt - Overcoming Hurdles to IT Modernization

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