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GitLab survey: AI-Driven Software Innovation Could Unlock $750 Billion in Value

  • Writer: Niv Nissenson
    Niv Nissenson
  • Jul 29
  • 2 min read
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The main message from GitLab’s newly released 2025 executive research report, AI-Driven Software Innovation Could Unlock $750B+ in Value. Based on a Harris Poll survey of nearly 2,800 global C-suite executives, the report suggests a dramatic economic opportunity: AI-enhanced software development could generate over $750 billion in annual value, thanks to productivity gains from the world’s 27 million developers.


Software Innovation Moves to Center Stage

AI is delivering measurable returns:

  • Executives report $28K in savings per developer per year from AI-powered tools.

  • 91% say software innovation is now a core business priority.

  • Companies report an estimated 44% increase in revenue and 48% rise in developer productivity due to AI.


But while the boardroom is bought in (with 82% ready to invest over half their IT budgets in software innovation), the path to full adoption remains murky.


The Reality Check: AI Isn’t Doing Half the Work — Yet


Executives may aspire to a 50/50 human-AI productivity model, but today humans still do 75% of the work. Only 27% believe AI should handle the majority of software tasks. Skills gaps, system complexity, and persistent fear of job displacement are keeping AI at arm’s length in many organizations.


Security, Privacy, and Governance Still Loom Large

As agentic AI (tools that take action autonomously) becomes mainstream — with 89% expecting it to be standard in software development within 3 years — concerns remain:

  • 52% cite cybersecurity threats as the top risk.

  • 51% worry about data privacy and security.

  • 45% want stronger governance.


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GitLab’s estimate of a $750 billion annual opportunity from AI-driven software innovation is based on survey respondents’ reported time savings per developer, extrapolated globally using average developer compensation. While this helps illustrate the scale of potential impact, it's worth noting that such methods offer directional insight rather than precise economic modeling.


After all, it’s difficult to assess the economic value of a transformative invention — like the printing press — by tallying the lost wages of medieval scribes. AI’s real impact may ultimately reshape how software is built, not just how long it takes.

That said, this report reinforces what we’re seeing across nearly every AI survey:

  • AI adoption is rising across industries

  • Human oversight and input remain essential

  • Security, privacy, and governance continue to be top concerns


As businesses pursue AI-enhanced productivity, the challenge ahead is clear: turning time saved into value created — without losing sight of the human and organizational foundations required to scale AI responsibly.

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