A new study by tech giant IBM shows more companies are turning to open-source tools for artificial intelligence (AI), with many already seeing financial benefits. The survey, conducted by Morning Consult and Lopez Research, gathered responses from over 2,400 IT leaders.
According to the IBM report, 85% of the companies surveyed are making progress on their AI plans for 2024. Almost half (47%) say they are getting good financial returns, with companies using open-source AI tools reporting better outcomes. Around 51% of businesses using open-source tools report positive returns, compared to 41% of those relying on other types of software.
“Organizations are concentrating on productivity gains rather than traditional ROI measures,” Maribel Lopez from Lopez Research, said in a media release. “They see the value in defining clear goals and using open-source ecosystems to innovate and achieve results.”
Increasing AI spending
The study predicts more spending on AI, with 62% of companies planning to invest more in 2025. Of these, 39% expect to raise their budgets by 25%-50%. Most plan to focus their spending on improving IT operations (63%), managing data quality (46%), and creating new products or services (41%).
Only 5% of respondents plan to reduce their AI budgets, showing strong confidence in AI’s benefits.
“Open-source tools are becoming a key part of companies’ strategies to improve efficiency and drive innovation,” Lopez said.
Why open source matters
The study highlights the growing importance of open-source tools in AI development. Nearly 60% of companies already use open-source platforms for their AI projects. By 2025, even more businesses are expected to adopt open-source tools, with 41% planning to rely on them more.
According to the survey, open-source tools provide the flexibility and cost savings that traditional systems can’t match.
Companies using open-source AI tools are also faster at moving from testing to full implementation. About 38% of these organizations plan to start more than 21 AI projects in 2025, compared to 26% of companies not using open-source tools.
Tracking success in AI
Many companies are finding alternative ways to measure AI success. They focus on faster software development (25%), innovation (23%), and saving time (22%) over traditional financial metrics like cost savings, which only 15% of respondents prioritize.
For companies not yet seeing positive returns, most remain hopeful. The study found 92% expect to achieve financial benefits within three years.
The findings show that businesses are increasingly turning to open-source AI tools to innovate and improve their financial outcomes. As AI adoption grows, open source is likely to play an even bigger role in shaping the future of these technologies.