Gartner predicts AI will reshape business workforce by 2028

Gartner has announced its top strategic predictions for IT organisations and users for 2025 and beyond, with a focus on the impact of generative AI (GenAI) on various aspects of business and society.

Gartner's Distinguished VP Analyst, Chief of Research and Fellow, Daryl Plummer, commented on the pervasive influence of AI, stating, "It is clear that no matter where we go, we cannot avoid the impact of AI. AI is evolving as human use of AI evolves. Before we reach the point where humans can no longer keep up, we must embrace how much better AI can make us." By 2026, Gartner expects 20% of organisations to use AI to restructure, leading to the elimination of over half of the current middle management positions. This change aims to reduce labour costs and improve productivity through automation.

Despite these benefits, Gartner warns of several challenges. The workforce may feel concerned about job security, and remaining managers might feel overwhelmed with additional responsibilities. Furthermore, junior employees could face a lack of development opportunities due to disrupted mentoring pathways.

The report forecasts that by 2028, digital immersion will result in digital addiction for around one billion people, prompting 70% of organisations to implement anti-digital policies. Plummer noted, "The isolating effects of digital immersion will lead to a disjointed workforce causing enterprises to see a significant drop in productivity from their employees and associates. Organisations must make digital detox periods mandatory for their employees."

By 2029, 10% of global boards are expected to utilise AI-guided insights to challenge executive decisions. Plummer stated, "Impactful AI insights will at first seem like a minority report that doesn't reflect the majority view of board members. However, as AI insights prove effective, they will gain acceptance among executives competing for decision support data to improve business results."

Additionally, by 2028, 40% of large enterprises are predicted to deploy AI to influence employee mood and behaviour for profit motives. Plummer cautioned, "Employees may feel their autonomy and privacy are compromised, leading to dissatisfaction and eroded trust. While the potential benefits of AI-driven behavioural technologies are substantial, companies must balance efficiency gains with genuine care for employee well-being to avoid long-term damage to morale and loyalty."

The report also predicts that by 2027, 70% of new employee contracts will include licensing and fair usage clauses for AI representations of their personas. There will be public debates over ownership rights, potentially resulting in lawsuits.

In healthcare, it is anticipated that by 2027, 70% of providers will include emotional-AI-related terms due to increased patient demand and clinician burnout, aimed at reducing empathy crises.

Furthermore, by 2028, 30% of S&P companies are expected to use GenAI for branding and new revenue models, while 25% of enterprise breaches will be linked to AI agent misuse, driving a need for new security solutions. Plummer advised, "Enterprises cannot wait to implement mitigating controls for AI agent threats. It's much easier to build risk and security mitigation into products and software than it is to add them after a breach."

By the same year, 40% of CIOs will demand Guardian Agents to monitor AI actions. Plummer highlighted the insufficiency of current security measures, stating, "The implementation of guardrails, security filters, human oversight, or even security observability are not sufficient to ensure consistently appropriate agent use."

The predictions also include a shift of USD $500 billion from energy operational expenses to microgrids by Fortune 500 companies to address energy risks and AI demands.