Data study ·
The artificial intelligence paradox: when a productivity gain does not translate into savings for companies
Original title, in Spanish: “La paradoja de la inteligencia artificial: cuando un aumento de la productividad no significa más ahorro para las empresas”
- Publication
- El Español (Spain)
- Author
- Noelia Hernández
- Published on
- 31 October 2026 · read in the page structured data
Summary
A Gartner study shows that artificial intelligence does not yet translate into savings for companies. Only 3% of them have exceeded their savings targets, while 97% have not met them. Yet 38% of companies have already exceeded their AI budget and 85% plan to increase their spending next year. According to a survey of 1,865 employees in the second quarter of 2026, only 21% of the time freed up by automation is reallocated to creative tasks. CV Viverito, senior director at Gartner, explains that companies need to reorganise work to turn this freed-up time into value. Another survey, conducted in July 2026 among 297 HR directors, reveals that 78% of them do not share a common view of the value created by AI, which is holding back investment.
Summary based on the full text of the article.
Read the article on El Español →Figures cited
-
3 %
Share of companies that exceeded their savings targets thanks to AI
Companies, Gartner survey 2026
« Solo el 3% ha conseguido superar los objetivos de ahorro y el 97% no ha conseguido alcanzarlos. »
Source: Gartner
-
97 %
Share of companies that did not meet their savings targets thanks to AI
Companies, Gartner survey 2026
« Solo el 3% ha conseguido superar los objetivos de ahorro y el 97% no ha conseguido alcanzarlos. »
Source: Gartner
-
38 %
Share of companies that exceeded their AI budget
Companies, Gartner survey 2026
« el 38% de las empresas ha superado el presupuesto destinado a IA »
Source: Gartner
-
85 %
Share of companies planning to increase their AI spending next year
Companies, Gartner survey 2026
« el 85% prevé incrementar su gasto en esta tecnología el próximo año »
Source: Gartner
-
21 %
Share of time freed up by AI spent on creative tasks
1,865 employees surveyed, Gartner survey Q2 2026
« la encuesta de Gartner, realizada en el segundo trimestre de 2026 a 1.865 empleados, revela que solo el 21% del tiempo liberado por la IA se destina a actividades más creativas »
Source: Gartner
-
78 %
Share of HR directors who do not share a common view of the value delivered by AI
297 HR directors surveyed, Gartner survey July 2026
« Una encuesta de la consultora realizada en julio de 2026 a 297 directores de RRHH revela que el 78% de los líderes no tiene la misma visión sobre dónde la IA aporta valor. »
Source: Gartner
Classification
- Country
- Worldwide scope
- Company size
- All sizes
- Industries
- All industries, or industry not specified
- Companies
- Gartner (study author)
- Keywords
- productivity, cost reduction, AI budget, human resources, work reorganisation, gartner
Entry written by Marsanne Studio from the cited article, with the help of an AI model (claude-sonnet-5). The rights to the article and its illustrations belong to El Español and its author. Entry translated from French by Claude Sonnet 5.5.