Beyond the Hype: Unisys and Antenna Aim to Finally Quantify AI's ROI

BLUE BELL, PA – June 29, 2026

In a market saturated with promises of AI-driven transformation, a critical question has persistently haunted enterprise leaders: what is the actual return on investment? Today, global technology firm Unisys announced a strategic partnership with Antenna, a leader in AI development observability, in a direct attempt to answer that question. The collaboration will embed Antenna’s data-driven measurement platform into Unisys’s suite of applications and services, aiming to shift the conversation from speculative gains to provable, evidence-based outcomes in software development.

This move addresses a growing pain point in the industry. As companies pour resources into AI-assisted development tools, many are finding themselves in an "AI productivity paradox," where a flurry of activity—more code, more pull requests—fails to translate into faster delivery of valuable features or improved software quality. The partnership between the tech giant and the observability specialist signals a market maturation, moving beyond the initial hype cycle to a new phase defined by accountability and efficiency.

The ROI Imperative in an Age of AI

For years, the true value of AI in software engineering has been notoriously difficult to pin down. Most organizations have been forced to rely on subjective feedback or outdated metrics that don't capture the nuances of AI-assisted work. This measurement gap has created significant challenges, with a 2025 MIT report noting that a staggering 95% of generative AI pilots were failing to meet their business objectives. The problem isn't just a lack of results; it's a lack of visibility.

"Organizations are rapidly adopting AI-assisted development tools, but many lack objective ways to measure return on investment and impact on software delivery," said Manju Naglapur, senior vice president and general manager, Cloud, Applications & Infrastructure (CA&I), Unisys. The partnership, she explained, is designed to "bring greater transparency and evidence-based accountability to AI-driven development, moving them from AI promises to measurable outcomes and enabling more-informed decisions and stronger delivery outcomes."

The financial stakes are escalating. The industry's widespread shift to token-based pricing models for large language models means that every AI-generated function or line of code comes with a direct cost. Without clear oversight, companies risk spiraling expenses for nebulous returns. Industry experts warn that simply measuring developer activity is misleading. An AI tool might generate vast amounts of code, but if that code requires extensive human review, introduces technical debt, or fails to align with business goals, the perceived productivity gains are an illusion. This partnership aims to connect the dots between token spend and tangible business value, a crucial step for any organization looking to scale its AI initiatives responsibly.

A New Lens on Development: The Rise of AI Observability

The solution proposed by Unisys and Antenna lies in a discipline known as AI observability. Going beyond simple monitoring, observability platforms provide a holistic, system-level view into how AI tools are being used and what impact they are having. Antenna has established itself as a leader in this space by creating a platform that links AI usage directly to engineering performance.

Antenna's platform provides granular insights by tracking AI adoption rates across teams, quantifying the productivity lift by comparing AI-assisted work to human-only baselines, and even evaluating the performance of autonomous AI "agents." This allows leaders to identify what’s working, where to invest in training, and how to optimize AI agent behavior for better results. Crucially, Antenna’s benchmarks are not based on a single organization’s internal data. They are informed by aggregated and anonymized data from thousands of organizations and hundreds of thousands of developers, providing an independent, third-party context for what "good" looks like.

"Forecasting, optimizing and aligning token usage to new feature delivery is key to unlocking the promise of AI," stated Jedidiah Yueh, founder and chief executive officer, Antenna. His statement underscores the platform’s core value proposition: making the cost and output of AI development transparent and manageable. By integrating this technology, Unisys clients will be able to pinpoint delivery constraints, optimize how they consume expensive AI tokens, and continuously refine their development processes based on objective data rather than gut feelings.

Unisys' Strategic Play for AI Accountability

This partnership is not an isolated move but a key component of Unisys' broader "AI-First" strategy. The company, which has been working to enhance its entire portfolio with artificial intelligence, recognizes that building trust in AI requires more than just powerful algorithms; it requires proof of performance. The collaboration is designed to complement Unisys' proprietary Intelligence Accelerator (UIA) AI framework, adding a critical layer of third-party validation and measurement.

By embedding Antenna’s observability capabilities directly into its Application Development and Transformation (ADT) and Application Managed Services (AMS) offerings, Unisys is creating an integrated, managed solution for its enterprise clients. This approach differentiates it from the standalone tools that development teams must procure, integrate, and manage themselves. For large organizations juggling complex tech stacks and digital transformation initiatives, a solution that comes with built-in accountability and expert oversight is a compelling proposition.

This strategic pivot reflects a deeper understanding of the market's current needs. The initial euphoria around generative AI is giving way to pragmatic demands for governance and measurable value. Unisys is positioning itself not just as a provider of AI technology, but as a strategic partner that can help clients navigate the complexities of AI adoption and ensure their investments lead to stronger, more predictable business outcomes. The integration promises to strengthen delivery governance and provide the objective, data-driven visibility that CIOs and CTOs have been demanding.