THIS WEEK IN AGENTS

The latest products, partnerships & predictions

• ServiceNow expands AI agent capabilities with Moveworks acquisition and new enterprise tools

• Taco Bell AI: Fast food icon embraces agentic automation

• Manus AI agent put to the test, outperforms single-system chatbots

• Prepare for auto-onboarding and more as IT departments become HR teams for enterprise AI

• Ex-Google DeepMind researchers launch $130M AI startup to build autonomous coding tools

• Vurvey Labs launches “Vurbs” AI agents that evolve through continuous human interaction

• Cisco, LangChain, and Galileo launch AGNTCY to bring order to agentic AI chaos

• 7 steps to build your own custom ChatGPT AI agent for business automation

What’s happening in agents right now

How intelligent assistants are reshaping productivity

The business landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. AI agents are no longer theoretical concepts within research labs; they're active participants in organizational workflows, demonstrating an unprecedented ability to handle complex, multi-step tasks across industries.

The autonomous work revolution

Intuit has emerged as a pioneering force, implementing a generative AI operating system that automates complete workflows. Their groundbreaking approach goes beyond simple data processing. By incorporating a sophisticated three-part data architecture, the system provides context-aware experiences that tangibly impact business operations.

The numbers are compelling. Intuit's AI agents have reduced payment times for QuickBooks users by an average of five days and increased the likelihood of full payment for overdue invoices by 10%. This isn't just incremental improvement; it's a fundamental reimagining of financial management for small businesses.

Infrastructure: the backbone of AI effectiveness

Success with AI agents isn't about raw computational power, but about building robust infrastructure with critical layers of accountability, context, and coordination. Experts argue that without these foundational elements, AI remains a powerful but unpredictable tool.

Opkey's approach illustrates this principle perfectly. Their ERP Lifecycle Optimization Platform promises to slash enterprise resource planning management costs by up to 50% through four specialized AI agents. By maintaining a balanced approach with human oversight, they've created a model for agent implementation.

Workforce strategy: a radical reimagination

Perhaps the most striking indicator of AI's impact is how companies are restructuring their workforce. Salesforce's decision to halt engineering hires while expanding sales teams represents a profound shift in technological labor strategy.

CEO Marc Benioff's approach suggests AI could increase engineering productivity by 30%, effectively eliminating the need for additional technical staff. This isn't just a cost-cutting measure; it's a strategic repositioning that emphasizes human-driven sales efforts to drive AI adoption in enterprises for the time being.

Transforming customer interactions

AI agents are rapidly becoming intermediaries between brands and consumers. Traditional search and discovery methods are being disrupted, with intelligent assistants potentially replacing conventional search engines.

This shift has profound implications. Companies must now optimize their digital presence not just for human consumers, but for AI interpretation. The control over customer relationships is increasingly moving towards AI-powered intermediaries, challenging established digital marketing strategies.

Research and insights: An AI-powered metamorphosis

Even research methodologies are experiencing a radical transformation. OpenAI's Deep Research feature demonstrates AI's capacity to process diverse content types with remarkable sophistication.

By utilizing advanced computational methods and achieving 26.6% accuracy on benchmark tests, these tools are redefining how organizations gather and synthesize information. The implications extend beyond mere efficiency; they suggest a fundamental reimagining of knowledge work.

Ethical considerations and human collaboration

Despite the excitement, experts caution against viewing AI agents as complete replacements for human workers. The most successful implementations will view these technologies as collaborative partners—augmenting human capabilities rather than eliminating them.

Organizations must focus on developing AI agents that can work alongside humans, leveraging machine efficiency while preserving human creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking.

The road ahead: questions and possibilities

What does this mean for businesses? The next few years will be critical in determining how deeply AI agents will be integrated into organizational workflows.

Which companies will successfully harness these tools? How will job roles evolve? Can we create AI systems that are not just efficient, but also aligned with human values and organizational goals?

The most adaptable organizations will view AI agents as workforce multipliers—tools that can handle complex, repetitive tasks while humans focus on strategy, innovation, and nuanced decision-making.

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Agents on the podcast

Our latest conversations around AI agents