# AI is unlocking a backlog of cheaper legacy software migrations

> Original title: The market for software migration from legacy systems has been limited to $30B a year or so because migration is very expensive and maint...

- Source: Ethan Mollick
- Published: 2026-10-31T13:43:45.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/lund37x8jvm4u0dpuwtqasxwz
- Original: https://x.com/emollick/status/2116526543346483419

## Summary

Ethan Mollick says the software migration market from legacy systems has been limited to about $30B a year because migrations are costly and maintenance is easier. He reports from talks with older firms that AI is unlocking a real backlog of scoped, cheaper migration projects surprisingly fast.

## Post

The market for software migration from legacy systems has been limited to $30B a year or so because migration is very expensive and maintenance is easier. Talking to older firms, there is a real backlog of scoped cheaper migration projects being unlocked by AI surprisingly fast