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AI agents have emerged as the fastest-advancing technologies on Gartner’s summer 2025 Hype Cycle for Artificial Intelligence analysis. These technologies are experiencing heightened interest this year by HR tech buyers, accompanied by ambitious projections that place them at what Gartner calls the “peak of inflated expectations.”
While the hype around fully autonomous AI agents continues to grow, the reality for enterprises is more nuanced. Organizations are successfully deploying AI agents for specific, well-defined tasks.
However, one expert says the most effective implementations require structure, governance and human oversight—just like hiring a human employee. For HR leaders navigating this transformation, understanding how to manage AI agents as part of the workforce presents both opportunities and challenges.
AI agents: from hype to reality
AI agents are becoming an operational reality across many enterprises, according to Emily Rakowski, chief marketing officer at Oro Labs, a procurement orchestration platform.
“We’re seeing organizations put them to work on clearly defined, repetitive tasks where the value is both measurable and immediate,” Rakowski says. She identifies examples as reviewing contracts, flagging supplier risks and generating reports.
The disconnect between perception and practice lies in expectations around autonomy. “The hype often comes from the idea that agents can operate fully
