Agentic AI to revolutionise enterprise applications by 2035

• Future of enterprise software will be written by those who embrace agentic AI not merely as a tool, but as a transformative partner in shaping tomorrow’s business landscape.
• Gartner urges technology leaders and CIOs to act within the next three to six months to prepare for this paradigm shift.

As digital transformation accelerates, businesses are bracing for a seismic shift in enterprise software, driven by advancements in agentic artificial intelligence (AI).

Gartner Inc., a leading provider of business and technology insights, forecasts that 40 per cent of enterprise applications will integrate task-specific AI agents by 2026, a significant increase from today’s rate of less than 5 per cent.

These projections signal not just incremental improvements, but a fundamental transformation of how organisations operate, collaborate, and compete.

According to Gartner’s latest analysis, agentic AI stands to capture approximately 30 per cent of all enterprise application software revenue by 2035, reaching over $450 billion. In comparison, this figure sat at just 2 per cent in 2025.

The rapid rise underlines the urgent need for businesses to devise clear strategies for AI adoption, as the next few quarters represent a critical inflection point for gaining competitive advantage.

Anushree Verma, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, explains, “AI agents are evolving rapidly, progressing from basic assistants embedded in enterprise applications today to task-specific agents by 2026 and ultimately multiagent ecosystems by 2029.”

Verma notes that this development is transforming enterprise software from tools that merely enhance personal productivity into dynamic platforms for autonomous collaboration and workflow orchestration.

Gartner describes the maturation of agentic AI in five strategic stages, each requiring informed management and targeted investment:

Stage 1: Embedded AI Assistants (2025)

By the close of 2025, practically every enterprise application is expected to include an embed AI assistant. These systems will enhance task efficiency and user interaction but will continue to require human initiation and supervision. Gartner cautions organizations against “agentwashing”—misclassifying basic assistants as autonomous agents.

For CIOs, the immediate challenge is to create seamless experiences by integrating these assistants through robust application programming interfaces (APIs), thus shifting the focus from application-centric to interaction-centric workflows.

Stage 2: Task-Specific AI Agents (2026)

By 2026, Gartner anticipates a leap from mere assistance to the deployment of AI agents specialiSed in distinct tasks, such as project management, customer service, or incident response. With 40 per cent of enterprise applications projected to include such agents, business leaders must implement strong security and governance frameworks to manage autonomous operations and ensure compliance.

Stage 3: Collaborative AI Agents (2027)

The following stage emphasiSes collaboration among multiple AI agents within an application. Gartner suggests that by 2027, a third of agentic AI deployments will feature multi-agent ensembles working in tandem to address complex and evolving business needs. This transition will require rigorous adoption of interoperability standards and new protocols to foster seamless machine-to-machine communications.

Stage 4: Ecosystems of AI Agents (2028)

In 2028, agentic AI will extend across application boundaries, linking specialised agents into cohesive networks that serve broader organisational objectives.

This will spark a transformation in enterprise software delivery, shifting user experiences from individual application interfaces to agent-driven front ends. As a result, organisations will need to rethink business models, pricing strategies, and governance structures to promote trust, transparency, and ethical use of AI technologies.

Stage 5: Democratised Agentic AI (2029 and Beyond)

By 2029, Gartner estimates at least 50 per cent of knowledge workers will directly participate in the design, governance, and deployment of AI agents for enterprise needs.

This democratisation will be supported by standardised protocols, enabling agents to autonomously sense their environment, orchestrate multifaceted projects, and address an expansive array of business requirements.

Pioneers who invest early will set industry standards, while others risk falling behind as AI agents become as integral to daily operations as smartphones are today.

Gartner urges technology leaders and CIOs to act within the next three to six months to prepare for this paradigm shift. Prioritising integration, workforce readiness, security, and governance now will determine which organistions emerge as leaders and which struggle to adapt.

The future of enterprise software will be written by those who embrace agentic AI not merely as a tool, but as a transformative partner in shaping tomorrow’s business landscape.