As we move into this next phase of technology, I think it's important we level with each other. The shift from AI as a helpful assistant to AI as a proactive agent isn't something we're preparing for anymore. It's already in motion, and the businesses that acknowledge it early will put themselves in a far stronger position.
Over the years, I've seen plenty of tech trends arrive with fanfare and fade just as quickly. I've also seen the ones that changed everything: virtualization, the cloud, SaaS, automation. With those, hesitation came at a price. This current AI agent wave feels very much in that category.
To be clear, I'm not talking about chatbots, shortcuts, or shiny demo videos. I'm talking about systems that:
- Understand tasks and objectives
- Work across tools and data
- Take action within set boundaries
- Follow through to completion
- Learn and improve along the way
That's not future-talk — that's operational capability already in play.
Now, I'm not suggesting anyone rush out and 'AI-everything.' That's not wise and usually leads to overspending and underperformance. But waiting for some magical 'perfect time' probably isn't the right move either. In my experience, that's when organizations wake up to find the market already shifted.
A Smart, Steady Approach Works Best
- Identify a repeatable, rule-based process
- Test one agent on one workflow
- Evaluate the results honestly
- Adjust and scale from there
No panic, no urgency for the sake of urgency — just forward movement with intention.
Those who start small now will build muscle, confidence, and competitive advantage long before this becomes a scramble. If you're unsure where that first use case might be in your business, feel free to reach out. Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to see the path forward more clearly.
Question for You
When you think about AI agents, do you see opportunity, uncertainty, or a mix of both?