Gartner: Autonomous Business and AI Layoffs May Create Budget Room, but Do Not Deliver Returns

Among organizations piloting or deploying autonomous business capabilities, approximately 80% report workforce reductions, according to a survey by Gartner. However, those reductions do not appear to translate into return on investment.

The survey found that workforce reduction rates were nearly equal among respondents reporting higher ROI from autonomous technologies and those experiencing only modest gains or negative outcomes.

Using technologies such as AI agents, intelligent automation, RPA, digital twins and tokenized assets, autonomous business will move organizations from simple augmentation and automation to true autonomy, where both machines and people have more autonomy.

“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.”

Gartner surveyed 350 global business executives in the third quarter of 2025 to understand the current state of autonomous business at enterprises. Qualifying organizations reported enterprise-wide annual revenue of at least $1 billion or equivalent, and they had been piloting or had already deployed at least one of the following: AI agents, intelligent automation or autonomous technologies.

Channel Impact^®
Gartner recommends that partners and their customers invest in the skills, roles and operating structures that let people guide, govern, expand and transition to autonomous capabilities.