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    PeMa Quadrant · Published November 2, 2026

    From Models to Agents: Why the Hard Part of Scaling AI Isn't Just the Model

    From Models to Agents: Why the Hard Part of Scaling AI Isn't Just the Model report cover

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    What the report finds

    3 shifts buyers should know

    01

    Value arises from agents effectively executing tasks within enterprise workflows, not just from the models themselves.

    Finding 1 of 3

    02

    Economic pressures are driving demand for model portability and open-source solutions to avoid vendor lock-in.

    03

    Governance frameworks and internal AI auditing mechanisms are lacking, which complicates effective AI deployment across sectors.

    Abstract

    In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into enterprise workflows, the shift from model selection to agentic execution has become paramount.

    This report synthesizes insights from a roundtable discussion among leaders in India's startup ecosystem, covering crucial topics such as token and GPU economics, operational sovereignty, and the importance of governance frameworks. Key findings reveal that the real value from AI arises not merely from models but from agents that can execute actions effectively within business processes. Additionally, concerns about operational control and trust are recognized as essential for widespread adoption. The report underlines that successful deployment in sectors like fintech and healthtech necessitates a flexible, economically sound infrastructure to manage compute needs efficiently while ensuring operational integrity and data sovereignty.

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    The PeMa (Penetration and Maturity) Quadrant is AIM Research's 2x2 vendor evaluation framework. It measures each provider's market penetration (clients, deal sizes, geographic spread) and technology maturity (capabilities, platforms, partnerships), and places them as Leaders, Seasoned Vendors, Growth Vendors or Challengers.

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