23 Daily — According to saastr.com, market research firm Gartner released its latest global IT spending forecast on October 21, 2026, projecting that worldwide software expenditures will grow 14.6% in 2027, reaching
Robust Software Growth Fueled by AI Products and Platforms
Gartner states that software spending will increase by 15 billion in 2027, second only to data center systems, which are expected to add $487 billion. Software accounts for approximately 22.9% of IT spending in 2026 and 22.8% in 2027, indicating stable growth alongside the IT market. The rapid expansion in software is primarily driven by artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI (GenAI) models and AI application development platforms.
Specifically, GenAI models are forecasted to grow by 117% in 2026, while AI application development platforms’ growth rate was revised upward to 39%. Enterprises are actively deploying AI technologies and purchasing embedded AI features from incumbent vendors, further propelling software expenditures.
Rising Software Prices and the Crucial Role of AI Infrastructure
Gartner analyst Lovelock noted that beyond demand growth, increases in software prices—especially for features and functionalities powered by GenAI—are a significant revenue booster. The substantial computing resources and AI infrastructure needed also position data center systems as a main focus in IT budgets.
Meanwhile, Gartner mentions corporations are moving from retrospective cost reporting to real-time AI financial operations (AI FinOps), enabling better management and cost control of AI resource usage. This shift encourages companies to audit API calls to reduce unnecessary expenditures.
Editor's take: Opportunities and Validation Paths for Entrepreneurs
The Gartner report highlights that the software sector's growth will continue to be driven by AI innovations in the coming years, offering significant market opportunities. Entrepreneurs focusing on generative AI models, AI application platforms, or embedding AI features into existing enterprise software stand to benefit.
To validate these opportunities, startups should track enterprises’ adoption rates of AI solutions and budget allocations, particularly in B2B software. Additionally, assessing whether new products can effectively reduce usage costs and improve resource efficiency remains a crucial metric.