Gartner Survey Finds All IT Work Will Involve AI by 2030; Organizations Must Navigate AI Readiness and Human Readiness to Find, Capture and Sustain Value
Kochi, Nov 17th : By 2030, CIOs expect that 0% of IT work will be performed solely by humans, 75% will be done by humans augmented with AI, and 25% by AI alone, according to a July 2025 Gartner, Inc. survey of over 700 CIOs. This underscores the need for organizations to focus simultaneously on AI readiness and human readiness to achieve sustainable value from AI.
During the opening keynote of the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo in Kochi, attended by over 1,100 CIOs and IT executives, Gartner analysts highlighted that few organizations are effectively addressing both aspects.
“Gartner has guided CIOs on their AI journey for years — from shaping AI ambitions in 2023, to pacing AI outcomes in 2024. This year, we map the right path to go all-in on AI value,” said Arun Chandrasekaran, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner.
AI and Human Readiness: The Dual Imperative
“While AI is not yet fully capable of delivering value independently, humans are even less ready to capture it,” explained Galliopi Demetriou, VP Analyst at Gartner. AI readiness ensures that technology can deliver value for specific use cases, while human readiness ensures the workforce and organizational structures are equipped to capture and sustain that value.
Transforming the Workforce for AI
Gartner predicts AI’s impact on global jobs will be neutral through 2026 and that by 2027, AI will create more jobs than it displaces. “AI is about workforce transformation, not job loss. CIOs should restrain hiring for low-complexity roles while redeploying talent to revenue-generating areas,” Chandrasekaran noted.
AI will render some traditional skills such as summarization, information retrieval, and translation less critical, while generating demand for new AI-specific skills. “Unlike traditional skills that improve task efficiency, AI skills enhance human capabilities, making workers better thinkers, communicators, and motivators,” said Demetriou. Organizations are advised to continuously test employees to prevent skill atrophy.
Finding Value Through AI Readiness
Organizations must assess AI readiness across three dimensions:
- Costs: A May 2025 survey of 506 CIOs revealed that 74% were breaking even or losing money on AI investments. Each AI tool often carries multiple ancillary costs including training and change management.
- Technical Capabilities: Some AI functions, like content generation, search, and summarization, are mature, while others, such as AI accuracy and autonomous multi-agent systems, require piloting and process development to ensure value.
- Vendors: Choice depends on scale and use case. Hyperscalers support large-scale deployments, startups provide domain-specific AI solutions, and AI R&D companies offer innovation at the cutting edge but limited scale. Organizations must also consider AI sovereignty in vendor decisions.
Gartner has introduced the “You Are Here” Positioning System, a framework to assess organizational readiness and guide leaders in finding, capturing, and sustaining AI value.
“AI has the potential to redefine entire industries, from hospitals to manufacturing, but the true payoff comes when AI enhances core competencies and solves previously impossible problems,” said Chandrasekaran.
