More than half of organizations already using generative AI have integrated AI agents into their daily operations, according to a global survey of 3,500 senior executives presented at Google and Calcalist's AI Week. This shift marks a transition from basic chatbots to autonomous systems that manage end-to-end business processes, forcing operations leaders to redefine how work gets done.
Defining the business need
Elit Ben Basat Nuriel, Head of Cloud Marketing at Google Israel, said organizations that clearly define the business problem before deploying an agent see a positive return on investment. Operations leaders evaluating an AI Learning Path for Operations Managers should focus on repetitive, time-consuming tasks rather than attempting to build a complete architecture on day one. "Creating an agent that delivers immediate results generates a powerful 'wow' effect and helps drive adoption," she said.
Three levels of organizational maturity
Ben Basat Nuriel outlined three distinct stages of AI adoption within enterprises. The first and simplest level involves chatbots that retrieve information and perform basic actions. The second stage consists of dedicated applications, such as service or creative agents, built for specific functions.
The third and most advanced level is multi-agent workflows. In this setup, multiple AI Agents & Automation systems communicate with one another to manage entire processes from end to end without human intervention.
Securing data and defining ROI
Successful implementation requires management to define the business need, understand the underlying technology, determine expected ROI, and allocate dedicated budgets. Security is equally critical, as agents must connect to enterprise systems while protecting corporate data.
"For an AI agent to be truly useful, it must have secure and controlled access to core systems," Ben Basat Nuriel said. She advised organizations to establish a strong security framework and adopt a zero-trust approach before deployment. This creates the necessary foundation for innovation with confidence.
The shift to orchestration
As these systems mature, the workforce will become a hybrid of human talent and digital workers. Managers will oversee both employees and AI agents, with each employee eventually supported by a personal agent or a network of agents working on their behalf.
Consequently, the most valuable human skill will be orchestration. "People will need to excel at setting clear objectives, providing the right context, managing guardrails, and applying critical thinking," Ben Basat Nuriel said. Human talent is not becoming less important; it is becoming more strategic, shifting from manual task execution to managing digital systems.
Why this matters for operations professionals
Operations leaders are on the front lines of this transition. Adopting multi-agent workflows requires moving beyond IT experiments to match technology with core business metrics like sales preparation time or cybersecurity response speed. Prioritizing data governance and starting with high-friction, repetitive processes will determine whether an AI investment delivers measurable efficiency or just unnecessary friction.
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