> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://adjacent.media/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# The ROI Problem With AI Agents Nobody's Talking About
- URL: https://adjacent.media/signals/the-roi-problem-with-ai-agents-nobodys-talking-about/
- Published: 2026-05-08T16:14:09.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-08T16:14:09.000Z
- Description: Most businesses deploying generative AI haven’t seen meaningful returns on investment, yet the industry is already pushing the next wave—autonomous agents that promise to do more work with less human oversight.
- Author: Jonathan Greene
- Tags: #signal, theme-ai, AI & ML

Source: [Marcus on AI](https://open.substack.com/pub/garymarcus/p/agents-and-roi)

Most businesses deploying generative AI haven't seen meaningful returns on investment, yet the industry is already pushing the next wave—autonomous agents that promise to do more work with less human oversight. Vendors are selling increasingly complex solutions to companies that haven't yet extracted value from simpler ones. Until organizations can demonstrate concrete ROI on foundational AI implementations, adding layers of autonomy will likely deepen the efficiency gap rather than solve it.