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Paul Welty, PhD AI, WORK, AND STAYING HUMAN

· artificial-intelligence · found

Bookmark: Why agents will change everything you know about AI

Discover how autonomous AI agents are revolutionizing industries, enhancing efficiency, and transforming the workplace for sustained success and innovation.

In the article “Why Agents Will Change Everything You Know About AI” by Adam Evans, the central thesis posits that as we enter the “agentic era” of Artificial Intelligence, autonomous agents will revolutionize the workplace. This era represents the third wave of AI innovation, following predictive AI and generative AI, now moving towards systems capable of reasoning, reflecting, and executing multi-faceted tasks independently. These AI agents promise to transform industries by automating repetitive tasks, optimizing processes, and enhancing customer experiences. For instance, in a customer service scenario, an AI agent can diagnose appliance issues, order necessary parts, and schedule repairs without human intervention, as exemplified by companies like Fisher & Paykel using Agentforce to streamline operations. Additionally, AI agents augment human abilities, offering real-time insights and advice during tasks like sales calls, which expand employee capacities beyond traditional limitations. The article illustrates that organizations embracing agentic AI through robust platforms like Salesforce’s Agentforce can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and remain competitive. Conversely, those delaying adoption may struggle to adapt to fast-evolving market demands. AI agents thus signify a transformative force in business, marking a crucial shift that ensures sustained success and innovation Why Agents Will Change Everything You Know About AI

The agent-shaped org chart

Every real org has the same topology: principal, role-holder, specialists. Staff AI maps onto it, node for node, and the cost collapse shows up in the deliverables that were always just human-handoff overhead.

AI as staff, not software

Two frames for what AI is doing to work. The tool frame makes tools smarter. The staff frame makes roles unnecessary. Those aren't the same product, the same company, or the same industry.

Knowledge work was never work

Knowledge work was always coordination between humans who couldn't share state directly. The artifacts were never the work. They were the overhead — and AI just made the overhead optional.

The work of being available now

A book on AI, judgment, and staying human at work.

The practice of work in progress

Practical essays on how work actually gets done.

How do I get my dev team to adopt AI?

A stub on helping mixed-interest development teams find their own useful ways into AI.

Want to learn about agents? Talk to someone who ran an agency.

I spent 20 years running consulting engagements at Fortune 500 companies. Turns out that's the best preparation for running a fleet of AI agents ... because the problems are identical.

Your AI agents need a water cooler

We run a twelve-session AI fleet that coordinates through an IRC breakroom. A friend asked: why are you making AI agents act like humans? The answer turned out to be more interesting than the question.

Article analysis: “Salesforce’’s Agentforce: Transforming enterprise operations with advanced AI integration”

Discover how Salesforce's Agentforce leverages advanced AI to transform enterprise operations, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction across industries.

Article analysis: Harnessing agentic AI: Transformative potential, data foundations, and future work dynamics

Explore how agentic AI transforms workplaces through data quality and human-machine collaboration, unlocking new potential for innovation and creativity.

Article analysis: The AI advantage: Why return-to-office mandates are a step back

Explore how return-to-office mandates hinder workplace progress and trust, while AI-driven hybrid models boost employee morale and productivity.