AI Agents to Influence Half of Business Decisions by 2027 as Executive AI Literacy Becomes Critical

AI Agents to Influence Half of Business Decisions by 2027, Says Gartner

Gartner projects that by 2027, AI agents will either augment or fully automate 50% of business decisions. This shift underlines the growing role of artificial intelligence in corporate decision-making processes and highlights critical areas executives need to focus on to stay ahead.

Alongside this, Gartner warns that 60% of data and analytics leaders will face challenges managing synthetic data, which could affect AI governance, model accuracy, and compliance. As organisations integrate AI into decision-making, aligning technology with governance and data strategies becomes essential.

Executive AI Literacy: A Key to Financial Outperformance

One of Gartner’s standout findings is the impact of AI literacy among executives. Organisations that invest in AI education for their leadership teams are expected to outperform peers by 20% in financial results by 2027.

Executives need a clear grasp of AI capabilities, risks, and costs to make informed investment choices. Gartner recommends hands-on executive learning programs, including the creation of domain-specific AI prototypes. This approach helps bridge the gap between technical teams and leadership, ensuring strategic decisions leverage AI effectively.

Decision intelligence — the integration of data, analytics, and AI to create automated decision workflows — depends heavily on executive oversight. While AI agents can manage complex data analyses, governance frameworks overseen by informed leaders remain critical. AI doesn’t replace human judgment but supports it when combined with solid governance and risk management.

Synthetic Data: Opportunity and Governance Challenge

Synthetic data is increasingly used to train AI models, offering privacy benefits and diverse datasets. However, Gartner highlights that 60% of data and analytics leaders will encounter failures in managing this data type by 2027.

The difficulty lies in ensuring synthetic data accurately reflects real-world conditions while meeting compliance demands. Effective metadata management is vital, providing context, lineage, and governance to maintain AI accuracy and regulatory standards.

Build vs. Buy: Shaping AI Deployment Strategies

Gartner predicts that by 2028, 30% of generative AI pilots moving to large-scale production will be developed in-house rather than relying solely on packaged applications. This shift reflects growing organisational confidence and capability in AI development.

At the governance level, 10% of global boards are expected to use AI guidance to challenge executive decisions by 2029. This trend highlights the increasing importance of data governance, regulatory clarity, and reputation management as AI becomes a core part of strategic leadership.

What Executives Should Do Now

• Prioritise AI literacy programs tailored to executive roles to improve decision quality and financial returns.
• Implement strong governance frameworks around AI agents and synthetic data to mitigate risks.
• Evaluate build-versus-buy strategies carefully, considering internal capabilities and long-term scalability.
• Prepare board members to engage with AI insights critically, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and compliance.

For executives looking to enhance their AI skills and understanding, exploring targeted AI training and certification can be beneficial. Resources like Complete AI Training’s executive-focused courses offer practical knowledge aligned with these emerging requirements.