Gartner: 70% of Enterprises May Abandon Vendor-Built AI Agents by 2028

Summary

Gartner forecasts that 70 percent of enterprises will abandon agentic AI systems built with vendor assistance by 2028, as costs rise and customers struggle to modify and maintain them independently. The consultancy describes forward-deployed engineering (FDE) as a model in which vendor engineers work alongside a customer to build and deploy software for specific requirements. Gartner says FDE can produce rapid early progress, but engagements can fail when customers do not gain the knowledge, governance, intellectual-property ownership, and operational control needed after the vendor leaves. It recommends using FDE only when a problem requires deep product expertise, rapid adaptation, or close integration with the customer’s environment. Otherwise, a traditional services or partner model may offer more predictable and cost-effective delivery. Gartner also predicts that fewer than 20 percent of FDE engagements through 2028 will turn recurring customer requirements into features in the vendor’s core product, and warns of “FDE washing,” where conventional consulting is marketed as specialized forward deployment. The analyst says clear scope, incentives, co-ownership, knowledge transfer, and an exit strategy should be defined from the start. The forecast follows earlier Gartner warnings that many generative AI projects will exceed budgets, custom-model efforts will be abandoned, and some AI-agent deployments will be reduced or decommissioned because of governance problems.