Despite widespread workforce reductions linked to autonomous technologies, most organisations are not seeing improved returns, with experts highlighting the need for skill investment and human-AI collaboration to drive long-term business value.
A new global survey by Gartner reveals that a large majority of organisations adopting autonomous business technologies are reducing their workforce, but these actions are not necessarily translating into improved financial outcomes. The study found that nearly 80% of companies piloting or deploying such technologies reported job cuts, yet return on investment (ROI) remained inconsistent.
The research, conducted among 350 senior executives in 2025, focused on enterprises with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion that have implemented or tested technologies such as AI agents, robotic process automation (RPA), and intelligent automation. Findings indicate that workforce reductions were nearly identical among organisations reporting strong returns and those experiencing limited or even negative outcomes.
Layoffs fail to guarantee returns
The report challenges a common assumption among business leaders that reducing headcount can accelerate the financial benefits of automation. Instead, it suggests that cost-cutting alone does not drive meaningful returns from advanced technologies.
“Many CEOs turn to layoffs to demonstrate quick AI returns; however, this disposition is misplaced,” said Helen Poitevin, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. “Workforce reductions may create budget room, but they do not create return. Organizations that improve ROI are not those that eliminate the need for people, but those that amplify them by aggressively investing more in skills, roles and operating models that allow humans to guide and scale autonomous systems.”
According to the study, the evolution toward autonomous business models is not about eliminating human roles but redefining them. Technologies such as AI agents and digital twins are enabling organisations to move beyond basic automation toward systems where humans and machines operate with greater independence and collaboration.
Human roles to expand in the long term
Looking ahead, Gartner forecasts significant growth in spending on AI agent technologies, with global investments expected to rise sharply over the next two years. As organisations deepen their adoption of autonomous systems, the demand for skilled human oversight and governance is also expected to increase.
The report projects that autonomous business models will ultimately create more jobs than they eliminate, with new roles emerging that cannot be easily replaced by AI. Factors such as demographic shifts and the need for trust in critical decision-making processes are likely to keep human expertise central to business operations.
“Long term, autonomous business will create more work for humans, not less. Lasting structural factors such as demographic decline and high-stakes, trust-dependent consumer moments will ensure human talent remains central to running, governing and scaling autonomous business,” Poitevin added.
The findings highlight a shift in how organisations must approach automation—focusing less on workforce reduction and more on building capabilities that combine human intelligence with advanced technologies for sustainable growth.
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