AI Agents Take Center Stage in Business Automation and Decision-Making
AI agents are transforming business by automating complex tasks like coding, customer support, and cybersecurity. Companies like Salesforce and NASA are already integrating these intelligent assistants.

The Rise of AI Agents in Business
Organizations are increasingly adopting AI agents to assist with software programming, enhance business intelligence, and automate customer support and HR functions. After the initial hype around generative AI lost some momentum due to high expectations, AI agents have taken center stage. Unlike generative AI, which focuses on content creation, AI agents emphasize operational decision-making, offering more direct impact on business workflows.
Companies such as Aflac, Atlantic Health System, Legendary Entertainment, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are already exploring AI agents. CRM leader Salesforce has built its strategy around AI agents with its Agentforce platform, while ServiceNow has integrated AI agents into its Now Platform. Microsoft and other major players are also entering this space.
With AI agents appearing across numerous platforms and applications, organizations may struggle to identify where to begin. Experts highlight several key use cases where AI agents deliver the most value.
Top Uses for AI Agents
Software Development
AI agents are set to advance AI coding assistants, turning them into smarter tools capable of writing large sections of code. While current coding assistants have mixed reviews, predictions suggest that within three years, AI agents will generate the majority of code. This shift will require many software engineers to reskill.
Beyond writing code, separate AI agents will handle code reviews and error detection. Integrated with DevOps toolchains, these agents can automate workflows, reverse engineer specifications, generate test cases, and approve code artifacts, significantly boosting automation levels. Organizations like MITRE have already deployed AI agents for code management, particularly for bug fixes in code repositories.
RPA on ‘Steroids’
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has long automated simple, repetitive tasks. AI agents take this further by handling more complex problems requiring decision-making skills. With AI, RPA evolves from rule-based actions to adaptable, autonomous processes, improving efficiency across operations.
Experts foresee AI agents working alongside or even replacing traditional RPA tools, pushing automation to new heights.
Customer Support Automation
Traditional chatbots and voice bots have been limited to simple customer queries. AI agents, however, provide autonomous, reason-based, multistep task handling that adapts to varied customer needs. This enables more contextual and comprehensive support across industries like retail, financial services, and IT help desks.
Automating Enterprise Workflows
With vendors like ServiceNow and Salesforce embracing AI agents, enterprise workflows are a prime area for automation. AI agents can transform meeting notes into project tickets or trigger supplier orders based on demand predictions, all without human intervention. Organizations using unified IT platforms may find integration easier compared to those relying on multiple, disparate solutions.
Cybersecurity and Threat Detection
AI agents are being deployed in cybersecurity to autonomously detect, respond to, and even mitigate security threats in near real-time. This capability reduces response times and improves protection. Additionally, AI agents can customize security protocols based on specific vulnerabilities and threat patterns.
Enhanced Productivity
Some companies use AI agents as companions embedded in tools like Microsoft Word and Outlook. This helps speed up tasks such as contract processing and customer response, enabling faster transactions. Financial services and healthcare technology firms are also adopting AI agents to automate key business processes.
Generating Reports
Beyond text and image creation, AI agents now accelerate report generation. For example, in third-party risk management, AI agents compile data and produce detailed reports in minutes, which human experts then refine. This drastically cuts down the time needed for report preparation while maintaining accuracy.
HR and Employee Support
AI agents are increasingly used to answer employee questions and handle routine HR tasks. Surveys show that 43% of companies are employing AI agents for HR functions. Early adopters have found this to be a low-risk yet high-value application as the technology matures.
Business Intelligence
AI agents paired with business intelligence (BI) tools can provide deeper insights beyond standard dashboards. They enable more employees to access advanced analytics without needing specialized data teams, making BI more accessible and actionable.
Looking Ahead
Many organizations are still in the early stages of integrating AI agents, with countless new applications yet to be discovered. Understanding how these agents should interact within an organization and how to govern their use will evolve over the next few years. The potential for AI agents to streamline operations and improve decision-making is becoming clear, signaling a significant shift in how businesses operate.