Gartner Predicts 40% of Generative AI Solutions Will Be Multimodal by 2027

Gartner, Inc. has forecast that by 2027, 40% of generative AI (GenAI) solutions will be multimodal, representing a significant increase from just 1% in 2023. Multimodal GenAI, which integrates text, images, audio, and video, is expected to transform enterprise applications by enhancing human-AI interaction and providing differentiated GenAI-enabled offerings.

According to Erick Brethenoux, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, “The evolution of GenAI toward multimodal models enables the capture of relationships between various data streams, thus scaling the benefits of GenAI across all data types and applications.”

Multimodal GenAI is highlighted as one of two technologies with high potential in Gartner's 2024 Hype Cycle for Generative AI. It is expected to lead to a competitive advantage for organizations, alongside open-source large language models (LLMs), over the next five years.

Gartner also predicts two technologies to reach mainstream adoption within the next decade: domain-specific GenAI models and autonomous agents, both offering significant potential for improving enterprise AI projects.

Key GenAI Innovations:

• Multimodal GenAI: As it becomes more prevalent, multimodal GenAI will enhance enterprise applications, offering new functionalities across industries. Brethenoux emphasized that in real-world scenarios, people encounter multimodal data, making this advancement crucial for AI models to deliver higher-quality results.

• Open-Source LLMs: These models democratize access to GenAI, allowing for task-specific optimizations, greater transparency, and enhanced privacy, while reducing vendor lock-in. This fosters innovation through collaborative development and reduces training costs.

• Domain-Specific GenAI Models: Optimized for specific industries, these models improve performance, privacy, and accuracy, reducing the need for complex prompt engineering and helping organizations achieve faster time-to-value on AI initiatives.

• Autonomous Agents: These systems operate independently to achieve defined goals, potentially revolutionizing business operations by learning from their environment, improving over time, and handling complex tasks.

Gartner clients can explore these insights further in the "Hype Cycle for Generative AI, 2024" report, with additional analysis available at the upcoming Gartner CIO & IT Executive Conference in Dubai from November 19-21, 2024.