Over 80% of US government agencies already use AI agents - and it's only the beginning

Vertigo3d/E+/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's key takeaways

Adoption of agentic AI in government is now a leadership mandate.

82% of government organizations have already adopted AI agents.

71% of government agencies plan to increase use of agentic AI in 2026-2027

According to IDC research focused on public-sector readiness, agentic AI is no longer in the experimental phase for government; it is a leadership mandate.

IDC finds that while many government agencies are implementing agent-driven workflows, few have moved beyond pilots. The rate of agentic AI adoption in government is due to several factors:

Budgetary pressures

Sovereignty and compliance , including requirements for data resistance, algorithmic transparency, and accountability

... continue reading