A tech research firm forecasts a dramatic shift from basic AI assistants to autonomous, task-specific agents within two years.
Enterprise software is poised for a significant transformation as artificial intelligence agents move beyond simple assistance to autonomous task execution, according to new research from technology advisory firm Gartner.
The company predicts that 40% of enterprise applications will integrate task-specific AI agents by 2026, representing a significant increase from the current rate of less than 5%. This shift represents a fundamental change in how businesses operate, moving from AI tools that support individual workers to systems that can collaborate autonomously.
Revenue Impact Could Reach $450 Billion.
Gartner forecasts that agentic AI will drive approximately 30% of enterprise application software revenue by 2035, reaching over $450 billion compared to just 2% in 2025. This massive growth reflects the technology’s potential to reshape entire business workflows.
“AI agents are evolving rapidly, progressing from basic assistants embedded in enterprise applications today to task-specific agents by 2026,” said Anushree Verma, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. The evolution will ultimately lead to “multiagent ecosystems by 2029,” she added.
Critical Window for Strategic Planning
Companies have a narrow three to six-month window to develop their agentic AI strategies, according to Gartner. Organizations that delay risk falling behind competitors as the technology reaches an inflection point.
The transformation will occur across five distinct stages. By the end of 2025, nearly every enterprise application will have embedded AI assistants. These will evolve into task-specific agents by 2026, then collaborative agent systems by 2027.
Future Workforce Implications
By 2029, Gartner predicts that at least 50% of knowledge workers will need new skills to work with, manage, and create AI agents for complex tasks. This represents a fundamental shift in workplace dynamics.
The research also suggests that by 2028, one-third of user experiences will shift from traditional applications to AI-powered front ends, potentially disrupting current business models.
Governance Challenges Ahead
As AI agents become increasingly independent, companies must address security and governance challenges. Verma emphasized that leaders need to ensure “strong security and governance” as agents begin handling tasks “without human involvement.”
The evolution from today’s AI assistants to true autonomous agents represents one of the most significant technological shifts facing enterprises, with early adopters likely to establish competitive advantages in the emerging landscape.