Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Gartner Predicts Robots, Disposable Apps and Rising AI Costs
Gartner has made predictions about how artificial intelligence may change businesses by 2027 and beyond.
Companies may build or manage so much energy that they could sell power to electricity grids and AI data centers.
Many workers may use robots, drones, or other physical AI systems to do their jobs more safely.
People, companies, and governments may create billions of software agents that request public services automatically.
This could make government systems much busier.
Companies may also create short-lived apps that are used for less than a year.
These apps could create problems with security, records, and rules.
Gartner warns that AI can become very expensive when too many tokens or services are used.
It recommends stronger planning, monitoring, safety measures, and accountability for AI.
By 2030, enterprise-owned energy worth $10 trillion could make Global 2000 companies unexpected power providers.
Gartner predicts more than 10 billion autonomous agents will strain public services by the end of 2030.
By 2030, physical AI systems will assist 80% of frontline workers at international companies.
By 2030, 80% of organizations with public-facing AI could face cost-exhaustion attacks that create excessive expenses.
Gartner forecasts that 80% of new applications will be intentionally disposable by 2029, increasing governance and security challenges.
- Who
- Gartner, including Distinguished Vice President Analyst and Gartner Fellow Daryl Plummer, made the predictions for businesses, governments, and organizations using AI.
- What
- Gartner published strategic predictions about robots, autonomous agents, enterprise energy, disposable applications, AI costs, and AI governance through 2030 and beyond.
- When
- The predictions were published on September 25, 2026, and cover developments expected from 2027 through 2030.
- Where
- The predictions concern global enterprises, international companies, governments, public services, energy markets, and AI data centers.
- Why
- Gartner says AI-driven electricity demand, automation, software creation, and public-service use will create new opportunities as well as cost, security, governance, and accountability challenges.
- Energy forecast
- By 2030, $10 trillion in enterprise-owned energy could make Global 2000 companies power providers.
- Autonomous agents
- More than 10 billion autonomous agents could affect public services by the end of 2030.
- Physical AI
- By 2030, 80% of frontline workers employed by international companies could be assisted by physical AI systems.
- AI cost attacks
- By 2030, 80% of organizations with public-facing AI could experience a cost-exhaustion attack.
- Disposable applications
- By 2029, 80% of new applications could be intentionally designed for use lasting less than one year.
- AI FinOps
- By 2028, 60% of Global 500 companies could embed AI FinOps controls at the inference layer.
- AI accountability
- By 2030, 80% of Global 500 companies could contractually designate a CIO or CAIO as an AI Evidence Custodian.