Every decade or so, a technology shift occurs that is so fundamental it rewires the entire global economy. In the 2010s, it was Cloud computing. Today, the signals suggest we are standing at the precipice of the next major structural shift: Agentic AI.
For business leaders and investors, the natural question is: "How big will this get, and how fast?" To answer this, a recent analysis of the Agentic AI market uses the history of Cloud computing as a roadmap. The findings suggest that we aren't just looking at a similar trajectory - we might be looking at an even steeper adoption curve.
The Cloud Analog: A 15-Year Rocket Ship
To understand where Agentic AI is going, we first look at where Cloud has been. The evolution of the Cloud market provides a relevant analog for how Agentic AI may play out, as both represent structural technology shifts for the enterprise.
Cloud Computing Growth: 2010–2024
Data triangulated from Forrester, IDC, and Gartner
According to data triangulated from Forrester, IDC, and Gartner, Cloud spend grew from less than $20 billion in 2010 to over $400 billion in real terms over a span of roughly 15 years. It grew at an annual rate of ~25%, with even faster growth (30% p.a.) in the early years between 2010 and 2015.
This wasn't just "growth"; it was a total reimagining of IT infrastructure.
Forecasting the Agentic Future
If we apply this same historical growth curve to the emerging market for Agentic AI services, the numbers are staggering.
Structural Technology Shifts: Side by Side
Two transformations that changed enterprise computing
Cloud Computing
Agentic AI
As a "base case," if the agentic market unfolds at the same rate Cloud did between 2010 and 2024, we can expect $300 billion to $600 billion of the total global services opportunity to be realized by 2035–2040. In just 10 to 15 years, the market for Agentic AI services could match or exceed the entire current U.S. spend on traditional system integration services.
Market Projections: 2035-2040
If Agentic AI follows Cloud's growth trajectory
Why "Fast" Might Be an Understatement
The comparison to Cloud is compelling, but there is strong evidence to suggest that Agentic AI adoption could actually be faster.
Unlike the early days of Cloud, where physical infrastructure had to be built and trust had to be earned, Agentic AI is landing in an environment that is already digital-first. As one Google Cloud partner noted:
"When cloud started, adoption took longer due to the size of transformation and upskilling needed. This infrastructure is already in place for agentic and has been fast-tracked by COVID."
Two key signals support this "acceleration thesis":
The Acceleration Thesis
Why Agentic AI adoption could outpace Cloud
Revenue Velocity
AI startups are proving they can monetize faster than their SaaS predecessors. Data from Stripe shows dramatically compressed timelines to reach revenue milestones.
Enterprise Demand
The appetite is already here. Enterprises are not waiting for the technology to mature—they're actively planning deployments at unprecedented rates.
What This Means for Katonic Partners
At Katonic, we've positioned our platform at the heart of this structural shift. While the Cloud era was about moving infrastructure off-premise, the Agentic era is about deploying intelligent automation that transforms how work gets done.
Katonic: Built for the Agentic Era
Your platform for the next structural shift
Our sovereign AI platform is designed for enterprises that want to capture the Agentic opportunity without the risks of vendor lock-in. With pre-built agents, sovereign deployment options, and comprehensive orchestration tools, Katonic helps you move faster than the market.
Ready Infrastructure
Deploy agents in days, not months
Sovereign Control
Your data, your infrastructure
Partner Ecosystem
Capture the $1T services opportunity
The Bottom Line
While the Cloud adoption curve gives us a conservative baseline, the unique conditions of today's market - ready-made infrastructure, rapid monetization, and intense enterprise demand - suggest we could see value realized much sooner than the 2035 timeline suggests.
For partners and enterprises, this means the window to "wait and see" is closing faster than it did in the Cloud era. The infrastructure is built, the demand is real, and the trajectory is set to be vertical.
The question isn't whether Agentic AI will transform enterprise computing. The question is whether you'll be positioned to capture the opportunity when it does.
