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Agentic AI Projects Face Sweeping Cancellations Amid Rising Costs and Unclear Value

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 29, 2025

Recent Gartner research signals a significant industry shift: over 40 percent of agentic artificial intelligence initiatives are projected to be terminated by the close of 2027. Mounting expenses and ambiguous return on investment are driving this reassessment across the sector.

Strategic Imperatives for Tech Leaders

Industry titans, including Salesforce (CRM.N) and Oracle (ORCL.N), have embraced the potential of AI agents—autonomous systems designed to achieve goals and execute actions with minimal human intervention. These companies are investing billions to harness AI’s promise of margin expansion and cost optimization, underscoring the technology’s strategic relevance despite emerging challenges.

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Clarity Amidst Agent Washing

Gartner highlights a troubling trend of “agent washing,” where providers rebrand standard AI assistants and chatbots as agentic AI solutions without delivering substantive autonomous capabilities. According to the report, a mere 130 out of thousands of agentic AI vendors truly possess the advanced functionalities expected from these systems.

Industry Voices on Early-Stage Experiments

Anushree Verma, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, observes that many current agentic AI projects remain in the nascent stages as experiments or proofs of concept. “Most agentic AI projects right now are early stage experiments or proofs of concept that are mostly driven by hype and are often misapplied,” Verma noted. She further explained that the technology has yet to mature to a point where it can effectively autonomously manage complex business tasks or continuously follow nuanced instructions over prolonged periods.

Impact on Enterprise Operations

Forecasts indicate a significant shift in decision-making processes, with Gartner predicting that by 2028, approximately 15 percent of day-to-day work decisions will be autonomously managed by agentic AI—a leap from 0 percent in 2024. Moreover, projections suggest that 33 percent of enterprise software applications will integrate agentic AI features by 2028, up from less than 1 percent in 2024, illustrating the rapid pace of AI adoption despite the inherent challenges.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Airbnb Unveils Reserve Now, Pay Later Option For U.S. Guests

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 15, 2025

Introduction

Airbnb has introduced an innovative payment solution designed to enhance user flexibility for U.S. travellers. The new “Reserve Now, Pay Later” feature enables users to secure a booking without an upfront payment, offering a streamlined cancellation process should plans change.

Flexible Payment Terms

This new option applies to listings that feature either flexible or moderate cancellation policies. Under a flexible policy, guests can cancel their reservation up to 24 hours before check-in, while a moderate policy offers no-fee cancellations until five days prior to arrival.

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Payment Timing and Reminders

Regardless of the cancellation window, guests are obligated to complete the full payment before the expiration of the free cancellation period. Airbnb ensures a smooth experience by sending timely payment reminders to avoid any last-minute issues.

Evolution of Airbnb’s Payment Solutions

This initiative builds on Airbnb’s previous forays into flexible payment structures. In 2018, the company offered a partial upfront payment model, and more recently, a collaboration with Klarna enabled guests to pay in four installments over six weeks. Such strategic advancements demonstrate Airbnb’s commitment to adapting and refining its payment solutions to meet evolving consumer demands.

Consumer Insight Driving Innovation

Airbnb’s decision to launch the “Reserve Now, Pay Later” feature reflects robust consumer demand, with recent surveys indicating that 55% of respondents prefer flexible payment options. Additionally, 42% noted missed opportunities due to payment complexities when coordinating with travel companions, underlining the need for simplified financial arrangements.

Conclusion

By enhancing payment flexibility, Airbnb not only broadens its appeal but also addresses critical customer pain points, reinforcing its position as a leader in the evolving travel market. This initiative exemplifies how strategic innovation can drive customer satisfaction in an increasingly competitive landscape.