tech
January 29, 2026
How CEOs bringing AI agents to work are preparing customers and employees
As companies increase their AI investments, chatbots and AI agents are often the first place the spending shows up.
TL;DR
- Companies are making significant investments in AI-powered agents for customer service and internal productivity.
- Walmart is integrating AI agents into ChatGPT and its app for shopping assistance and product recommendations.
- Calix has deployed AI agents across its platforms to assist with marketing, customer service, and field operations.
- Concerns about AI-driven job displacement are increasing, with a significant percentage of employees worried about job loss.
- Tech executives' predictions about AI's impact on the labor market are amplifying worker anxieties.
- Experts suggest framing AI agents as "teammates" to foster acceptance and integration.
- Some companies, like McKinsey, are already incorporating AI agents into their workforce numbers.
- Industry leaders stress the importance of clear guidelines for data protection and a balanced approach to AI adoption.
- The evolution of AI agents is seen as part of a new category of "systems of execution."
- True agentic AI with full agency is expected to emerge more significantly in the next three to five years.
- Gradual implementation and supervision are key to building confidence and trust in AI agents.
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