Why Over 40 Percent of Agentic AI Projects Are Expected to Fail by 2027

Nearly Half of Agentic AI Projects Could Fail by 2027, Warns Gartner

Gartner, a leading technology research firm, predicts that over 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by the end of 2027. The primary reasons include escalating costs, unclear business value, and inadequate risk controls. This forecast was shared on June 25, 2025, after polling more than 3,400 professionals earlier that year.

According to Gartner’s Senior Director Analyst Anushree Verma, most current agentic AI initiatives are early-stage experiments or proofs of concept fueled by hype rather than clear strategy. As a result, many projects won’t progress beyond pilot phases to full production.

What Marketers Need to Know

For marketing professionals, these findings highlight the risks of jumping into agentic AI without a clear plan. Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems capable of reasoning, planning, and acting independently, often using large language models combined with external tools. However, Gartner warns that many vendors claim agentic AI capabilities without genuine functionality—a practice known as "agent washing."

Only about 130 vendors worldwide truly offer autonomous AI systems, while many simply rebrand chatbots, robotic process automation, or AI assistants with agentic labels. This makes it critical for marketing teams to carefully vet technology providers and demand proof of real agentic performance.

Why So Many Projects Will Fail

• Technical complexity: Agentic AI systems require sophisticated integration of natural language processing, machine learning, computer vision, and continuous learning from feedback loops. This complexity drives up costs and requires substantial infrastructure.
• Legacy system integration: Many enterprises struggle to retrofit autonomous agents into existing workflows and IT environments, leading to delays and budget overruns.
• Unclear ROI: Current agentic AI models often lack maturity to consistently deliver complex business outcomes. Without clear value, projects lose support.
• Risk controls: Ensuring AI agents operate within safe boundaries demands extensive customization and testing, which many organizations underestimate.

Enterprise and Marketing Sector Impacts

The marketing sector faces a significant shift as agentic AI changes how brands engage with consumers. Microsoft’s recent comments about the "traditional web" becoming obsolete reflect this transformation. Agent-mediated interactions could redefine digital advertising and marketing automation, making old web-based models less relevant.

However, Gartner’s research suggests that marketing teams must approach agentic AI cautiously. Success will require selecting the right use cases, redesigning workflows for autonomous decision-making, and focusing on measurable improvements in enterprise productivity rather than automating isolated tasks.

Investment Trends and Outlook

Gartner’s January 2025 poll revealed mixed investment patterns:

• 19% of respondents reported significant investments in agentic AI.
• 42% took a conservative approach.
• 31% remain uncertain or are waiting to see how the technology evolves.
• 8% have made no investments.

Despite the high failure forecast, successful implementations could see up to 15% of work decisions made autonomously by 2028. This indicates potential value for organizations that carefully plan and execute agentic AI deployments.

Final Thoughts for Marketers

Agentic AI offers intriguing possibilities but also comes with real risks. Marketers planning to incorporate autonomous AI should:

• Focus on clear business outcomes and measurable ROI.
• Vet vendors thoroughly to avoid agent washing.
• Prepare for integration challenges with legacy systems.
• Implement strong risk controls and test extensively.
• Redesign workflows to support autonomous decision-making where it adds value.

For those looking to build practical AI skills, exploring targeted training and courses can be a smart move. Resources like Complete AI Training’s latest courses offer focused paths for marketing professionals wanting to understand AI applications better.