Why the C-suite is embracing AI agents

Good morning. AI agents are poised to potentially deliver the AI productivity gains that companies seek.

However, we’re still in the early innings of the use of AI agents—autonomous systems that can reason, make decisions, and complete tasks using other software tools without constant human oversight.

"AI agents are here. How afraid should workers be of losing their jobs?" is a new article by Fortune’s AI editor, Jeremy Kahn. “These systems have a generative AI model at their core, but they can do more than the AI model can in isolation,” Kahn writes. A generative AI model may be able to suggest an itinerary for an upcoming vacation, he explains. However, an AI agent could perform that task as well, but then actually make the bookings and reservations for you.

“This kind of automation is a perennial C-suite fever dream,” Kahn writes of AI agents. Companies embraced robotic process automation, or RPA, over the past decade, which is software that can automate repetitive tasks. But traditional RPA systems are limited because they’re inflexible and can usually handle just one narrow task, he explains.

Although businesses are deciding to lean into the technology, they’re being cautious, partly because AI agents carry more risks than other AI products, according to Kahn. “But, if deployment ramps up rapidly, as many analysts expect, AI agents could radically transform how people work.”

However, as spending on AI agents soars, many workers fear they will kill jobs, he explains. You can read Kahn’s complete article including more about the U.S. market for AI agents, the most common use cases, and the impact on the workforce here. 

CFOs also are exploring the use of AI agents. According to Deloitte’s "A CFO's Guide to Tech Trends 2025," agentic AI solutions hold promise to transform operations, including finance, with the use of digital workers. But the firm also notes that “new standards for risk and trust will be required.”

Snaplogic, a $1 billion tech startup, recently released a report on the adoption of AI agents at companies. Roughly 90% of its survey respondents are incorporating generative AI into their IT strategy. And 50% have already deployed AI agents, while another 32% plan to do so in the near future. The findings are based on a survey of 1,000 IT decision makers across the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Australia. 

Respondents named the finance team as the non-technical team that would benefit the most from AI agents. They highlighted the impact agents have on reducing repetitive tasks, and on reporting activities like financial forecasting and reconciliation. 

However, enterprises remain cautious. About 60% of respondents cite data security and privacy as the primary barrier to AI adoption. Another challenge is knowledge gaps and resistance to change—29% of respondents noted a lack of employee understanding of AI capabilities.

Sheryl Estrada
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com