Key Takeaways:
- AI will transform millions of jobs annually starting in 2028.
- Routine tasks will shrink as AI-driven skills become essential for future roles.
- Organizations must plan for hidden AI costs and invest in reskilling, readiness, and phased adoption to stay competitive.
Traditional job roles are running out of time as AI reshapes the workforce at unprecedented speed. Starting in 2028, Gartner warns that 32 million positions per year will undergo transformation, forcing organizations to adapt or fall behind.
Market research firm Gartner recently conducted a survey of more than 700 Chief Information Officers (CIOs), who offered insights into how IT leaders expect AI integration across their domains by 2030.
AI embedded in all IT work by 2030
By 2030, artificial intelligence will be embedded in every aspect of IT work, which will eliminate tasks performed entirely by humans. Instead, 75% of IT activities will involve humans working alongside AI tools, while the remaining 25% will be conducted entirely by autonomous AI systems. Moreover, organizations should ensure strong AI by building mature systems and tools that can deliver real value. Human readiness is also equally important, which involves developing workforce skills and structures to sustain that value over time.
According to Gartner, AI will reshape the workforce without reducing overall job numbers by 2026, and even drive job growth through 2028–2036. Instead of hiring for routine roles, organizations should shift their focus to reskilling and redeploying existing employees into higher-value and revenue-generating functions.
As AI automates routine tasks like summarization, retrieval, and translation, demand for these traditional skills will decline. Instead, organizations will need to prioritize AI-era competencies such as leadership, critical thinking, and nuanced communication, which will be supported by continuous training and regular assessments to prevent “skill atrophy.”
Hidden costs CIOs must prepare for
Gartner’s study found that many CIOs, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), are still experiencing breakeven or negative returns on AI investments due to overlooked costs like training and change management. It’s recommended that organizations plan for expenses beyond the initial purchase, including readiness initiatives, skills development, and transformation efforts. Organizations must also align vendor strategies with business needs, such as hyperscalers for large-scale deployments, startups for niche solutions, and R&D-focused vendors for cutting-edge prototypes.
Recommendations for a sustainable AI adoption strategy
Organizations should invest in AI readiness by developing mature systems, tools, and infrastructure to deliver measurable value. They should also strengthen human readiness through workforce reskilling, organizational redesign, and leadership development to sustain that value.
Additionally, businesses must focus on reskilling and redeploying existing talent into higher-value, revenue-generating positions. Organizations should emphasize critical thinking, leadership, and nuanced communication, supported by continuous training and assessments to prevent skill gaps.
Lastly, it’s highly recommended to plan for expenses beyond the AI purchase price, including training, change management, and organizational transformation. Organizations must follow a phased approach, which involves identifying AI value, capturing it through deployment, and sustaining it with governance and organizational support.