For close to 20 years, the State of Agile Report has documented how software delivery has evolved, from waterfall to Agile, through cloud and mobile transformation, and now AI. The 18th edition reveals we’ve reached another defining moment: Agentic AI is ushering in the Fourth Wave of Software Development and Delivery, where AI moves from personal assistant to autonomous orchestrator across the full delivery lifecycle.
The findings show an inflection point: AI adoption surged from 68% to 84%, with early adopters experimenting with autonomous systems. Yet only 49% have governance in place. Success in the Fourth Wave depends on adapting Agile into an AI-powered operating model focused on measurable outcomes, governance by design, and strategic leadership.
In this discussion, we’ll explore:
- What’s Changed: Why Agile maturity has plateaued as AI adoption climbs.
- Finding the Weakest Link: Why better tools aren’t delivering better outcomes.
- The Future: How organizations are adapting Agile for an AI-driven world.
