Customers Want Access to Human Agents From Companies Using GenAI for Customer Service: Gartner
Q&A with Eric Keller, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner Customer Service & Support Practice Gartner survey finds 87% of customers say companies using GenAI for customer service must provide access to a human agent Stamford, CT (Aug. 11, 2026) – Customers have mixed feelings using GenAI for customer support, as 50% of customers say their interactions are easier when companies use GenAI, yet 87% of customers say it is essential for companies to provide an option to reach a human agent when using GenAI, according to a Gartner survey. The Gartner survey of 3,566 B2B and B2C customers, conducted in February and March 2026, found that while customers are becoming more comfortable using AI to resolve service issues, they will push back when AI acts as a barrier to reaching a human. We spoke with Eric Keller, Sr Director Analyst in the Gartner Customer Service & Support Practice, to discuss how service and support leaders should design GenAI experiences that increase customer willingness to engage, support task completion and preserve access to human agents when needed. Q: Based on the Gartner survey, how should customer service leaders consider offering GenAI support to their customers? A: Customers are open to GenAI, but...