Generative AI and Agent Ecosystems: The Future of Business is Human

AI is Set to Unleash the Next Level of Human Potential in the Coming Years

As artificial intelligence continues to become more sophisticated and human-like, businesses will have access to increasingly powerful technologies that can transform how they operate. According to Accenture's 2024 Technology Vision report, 95% of executives agree that making technology more human will significantly expand opportunities across industries.

Generative AI and large language models are changing how we interact with and process information. This will disrupt how companies reach and engage customers as well as empower employees. Spatial computing and augmented reality will also create new opportunities, with the key being identifying the most useful applications. New interfaces like eye tracking, machine learning, and brain-computer interfaces will allow technology to understand people in more natural, human-centric ways.

Meet My AI Agent: Ecosystems of AI

Artificial intelligence assistants are evolving into proxies that can act on our behalf. As AI agents emerge, the resulting business opportunities will depend on three key capabilities: access to real-time data and services, the ability to reason through complex chains of thought, and the creation of tools designed for agents to use, not humans. With guidance and oversight from people, these advancements will allow AI agent ecosystems to complete both physical and digital tasks.

Accenture predicts that leveraging AI agent ecosystems will be a major opportunity for companies in the next three years. AI can already detect manufacturing defects, but agents could enable fully automated factories. AI processes orders now, but agents may soon handle sales and delivery. Like the assembly line, agent ecosystems will let companies reinvent what they offer and how.

As collaborators, agents could dramatically increase individual employee output. For processes that depend on people, agents will act as collaborators. Companies will need to consider both human and technological approaches to support these agents. Technologically, a key consideration will be how agents identify themselves, as machines currently make up 43% of identities on enterprise networks.

In the era of AI ecosystems, a company's most valuable employees will be those best able to set guidelines for agents. Success will depend on a company's core values and principles. The level of trust in autonomous agents will determine the value they can create, so people must teach agents how to reason about information. Agents are only as valuable as the people who teach them.

To start co-creating with agents, companies can fine-tune large language models on their data, giving foundation models a head start in developing expertise. Every agent action must align with core values and mission, so operationalizing values throughout an organization is key.

Agent ecosystems could vastly increase enterprise productivity and innovation in ways people can barely imagine. But they will only be as valuable as the people guiding them. Today, AI is a tool; in the future, AI agents will operate companies. We must ensure they do not get out of control. The time to onboard agents is now.