Abstract

This IDC study represents a vendor assessment of the general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) software platforms market through the IDC MarketScape model. This evaluation does not include more specialized AI software platforms such as conversational AI platforms or advanced machine learning platforms. This assessment discusses both quantitative and qualitative characteristics that provide guidance about general-purpose AI software platform vendors and their offerings. This IDC MarketScape covers a variety of vendors participating in the general-purpose AI software platforms market. The evaluation is based on a comprehensive and rigorous framework that assesses vendors relative to the criteria and to one another and highlights the factors expected to be the most influential for success in the market in both the short term and the long term.

"As the AI software platforms market continues to mature, customers are looking for vendors that offer a wide range of APIs and services as well as tools to help them identify, develop, and productionize AI applications. Success in this rapidly evolving space requires AI software platform vendors to continue to innovate and provide production-ready AI APIs and microservices, tools to help customers accelerate development and deployment as well as continuing to invest in people, skills, IP, and partnerships to remain competitive," says David Schubmehl, research director, AI Software Platforms at IDC. "As more organizations move their use of AI from pilots and POCs to production, customers are increasingly looking for vendors to partner closely with them to ensure AI success," adds Hayley Sutherland, senior research analyst for AI Software Platforms. "This includes vendor capabilities like outcomes-based pricing, co-creation of use cases, and the development of accompanying KPIs and ROI models that reflect a deep understanding of the customer's business."

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