AI Software Market: Spending on AI Applications, Platforms and Agents
Gartner data on worldwide AI software spending, AI agents, data science platforms and app development tools for 2025-2027, with growth rates.
- Updated October 1, 2026
- 5 min read
- 2 sources
- Global
Executive Summary
Gartner forecasts worldwide AI software spending of $461.6 billion in 2026, up from $288.2 billion in 2025, and $656.4 billion in 2027. Separate software-related markets for AI agents and assistants, data science and machine learning platforms, application development platforms and AI data add a further $68.3 billion in 2026. Gartner says vendors are embedding agentic AI into existing products, and enterprises are increasingly buying these embedded features rather than building their own.
Key Numbers
Charts
Gartner September 2026 forecast. 2025 is an estimate; 2026F and 2027F are forecasts.
Gartner forecast values for 2026.
- AI agents and assistants$29.2B
- Generative AI models$28.3B
- Data science and ML platforms$26.4B
- App development platforms$9.5B
- AI data$3.1B
Data Tables
Gartner, September 2026. 2026 and 2027 are forecasts.
| Market | 2025 | 2026F | 2027F |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI software | 288,168 | 461,637 | 656,353 |
| AI agents and assistants | 16,481 | 29,219 | 65,472 |
| Generative AI models | 13,021 | 28,266 | 51,620 |
| AI platforms for data science and ML | 19,405 | 26,445 | 35,552 |
| AI application development platforms | 6,885 | 9,541 | 12,478 |
| AI data | 826 | 3,126 | 6,480 |
Overview
This report covers spending on AI software, as measured in Gartner's public AI spending forecasts. It excludes AI infrastructure and AI services, which are covered in related reports.
Gartner forecasts AI software spending of $288.2 billion in 2025, $461.6 billion in 2026 and $656.4 billion in 2027 [1]. That implies growth of about 60.2% in 2026 and 42.2% in 2027 (FREEE.REPORT calculation).
Segmentation
Gartner reports several software-related AI markets alongside AI software. Its 2026 forecasts are:
- AI agents and assistants: $29.2 billion [1]
- Generative AI models: $28.3 billion [1]
- AI platforms for data science and machine learning: $26.4 billion [1]
- AI application development platforms: $9.5 billion [1]
- AI data: $3.1 billion [1]
Excluding genAI models, these four markets total $68.3 billion in 2026 (FREEE.REPORT calculation). In the September 2026 forecast, Gartner separated cross-functional agents and assistants from AI software and added consumer agents and assistants [1].
Historical Data
Gartner's September 2025 forecast used a different split. It put AI application software at $83.7 billion in 2024 and $172.0 billion in 2025, and AI infrastructure software at $56.9 billion in 2024 and $126.2 billion in 2025 [2]. These figures are not directly comparable with the September 2026 categories.
Trends
Gartner says vendors across software types are embedding agentic AI into existing products to defend against new cross-functional agents [1]. With genAI in the Trough of Disillusionment in 2026, enterprises are using simpler embedded AI features from incumbent providers to automate workflows and improve customer engagement [1].
Gartner raised its 2026 growth forecast for AI application development platforms from 28% to 39%, as enterprises and software firms build custom AI applications [1]. It notes that vendor lock-in, data sovereignty and runaway costs are not deterring buyers [1].
Methodology
Figures are from Gartner press release tables in millions of US dollars, converted to billions. 2026 and 2027 are forecasts; the 2025 value in the September 2026 table is an estimate. The September 2025 table uses older category definitions.
FREEE.REPORT calculations: AI software growth 2026 = $461,637 million / $288,168 million - 1; growth 2027 = $656,353 million / $461,637 million - 1; software-related market total 2026 = $29,219 + $26,445 + $9,541 + $3,126 million.
Sources
- [1]
Gartner Forecasts Worldwide AI Spending to Grow 49.5% in 2026 / Gartner / 2026-09-16 / Accessed October 1, 2026 / View source
- [2]
Gartner Says Worldwide AI Spending Will Total $1.5 Trillion in 2025 / Gartner / 2025-09-17 / Accessed October 1, 2026 / View source
Figures are reproduced from the publishers above. Calculations marked as our own are derived from these figures. Always check the original source before using a number.
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