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Beyond General-Purpose LLMs: The New Model Landscape Takes Shape

Publisher IDC
Published Apr 07, 2026
Length 22 Pages
SKU # IDC21084357

Description

This IDC Perspective looks at the enterprise AI model landscape that is rapidly diversifying beyond general-purpose LLMs, with small, multimodal, domain-specific, and regionally optimized models filling critical gaps. This expansion introduces new complexities in model selection, sourcing, and governance, requiring enterprises to develop robust competencies in evaluation, architecture, and orchestration. Global competition is intensifying, and success hinges on aligning AI model strategies with business objectives, leveraging composite AI, and adopting flexible, AI-ready data architectures to optimize value and performance."As enterprises enter a multi-model, multimodal, multiagent era, the real question is: How will you navigate the expanding constellation of AI models to unlock business value?" — Tim Law, research director, AI and Automation, IDC

Table of Contents

22 Pages

Executive Snapshot

Key takeaways

Recommended actions

Situation Overview

"Model choice" wins

Multi-model, multimodal, and multiagent

Beyond transformers: New model architectures

Composite AI

Managing model landscape complexity

Model selection: A new context

Model sourcing: Gardens, hubs, studios, and managed services

Model routing

Model registries and AI gateways

Providing context: AI-ready data architecture

The expanding global model landscape

United States and Canada

China

Europe

India and Southeast Asia

Advice for the Technology Buyer

Learn More

Related research

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