Capgemini reports AI agents are shifting from buzzword to business essential. Their new study says AI agents could unlock $450 billion in value by 2028 through revenue boosts and cost cuts.
Only 2% of companies have scaled AI agents fully. Another 12% are partly scaled. Pilots are running in 23%, and 61% are still exploring. Expect 15% of processes to hit semi- or full autonomy within 12 months.
Trust in fully autonomous AI agents is tanking — dropping from 43% last year to 27% now. Ethics, transparency, and unclear agent roles are behind the decline. 
The future is clear: humans and AI agents working side by side. By 2028, 38% of firms plan to embed AI agents directly on teams to boost productivity and innovation.
The study urges firms to:
- Redesign operations for AI agents
- Adjust workforce structures
- Balance autonomy with human oversight
- Build stronger tech foundations
- Align agent actions with business goals
- Embed ethical AI principles
Capgemini calls this shift “agentic AI.” They say it’s poised to reshape business models, workforce dynamics, and competitive edge. Senior leaders in strategy, data, and compliance should dive in.
The full report, Rise of agentic AI: How trust is the key to human-AI collaboration, is ready for download now.
