Tech Leaders Accelerate Agentic AI Deployment as EY Study Reveals Industry Shift
Nearly half of tech executives (48%) have already begun deploying agentic AI within their organizations, according to Ernst & Young's latest Technology Pulse Poll. The survey of 500 tech leaders in April also found that 50% expect most of their internal AI operations to become fully autonomous within two years, signaling a rapid industry shift toward self-directed AI systems.
Despite widespread concerns about AI-driven job displacement, 84% of respondents plan to increase hiring over the next six months while simultaneously upskilling existing employees-a dual strategy reflecting the complex workforce implications of agentic AI deployment.
Key Findings From the EY Technology Pulse Poll
The study highlights a competitive race among tech firms, with 58% of leaders claiming their organizations are ahead in AI adoption. However, EY Americas Technology Sector Growth Leader Ken Englund cautions that these perceptions may outpace reality: "This is more perception than reality since these companies tend to have a higher opinion of their progress than is statistically possible."
Data security emerges as the top concern, with 49% of tech leaders citing privacy and security risks-a significant year-over-year increase. This tension between rapid adoption and risk management underscores the challenges of implementing autonomous AI operations at scale.
Workforce Impact and Implementation Trends
Contrary to doomsday predictions, the AI boom appears to be creating jobs rather than eliminating them. Over half of surveyed companies are investing in workforce upskilling programs to bridge the skills gap created by new AI tools.
The push toward agentic systems reflects a maturation of enterprise AI strategies-moving beyond the initial "wow factor" of generative AI toward back-end integration that delivers measurable business value. As EY Global Technology Sector Leader James Brundage notes: "Against an uncertain macroeconomic environment, executives are overwhelmingly positive about the business value agentic AI can deliver."
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of tech leaders are deploying agentic AI?
48% of surveyed tech executives have begun implementing agentic AI solutions according to EY's April poll.
How soon will AI operations become autonomous?
50% of respondents predict fully autonomous AI operations within their companies within two years.
Are companies cutting jobs due to AI adoption?
No-84% of tech leaders plan to hire more workers while 50%+ are upskilling current employees to work with AI systems.
No-84% of tech leaders plan to hire more workers while 50%+ are upskilling current employees to work with AI systems.