When trying to understand where work will go with artificial intelligence automation, you need to understand the idea of an AI agent.

Agent software in various forms has been around for decades. The term referred to small programs that monitored activities and reacted to different circumstances. They might help process a data flow, alert specific people in case of problems, or otherwise take relatively limited actions under prearranged conditions.

According to a report from CB Insights, a market research and analyst firm, AI agents are more sophisticated versions of small utility programs. They are powered by large language model capabilities, with a greater capacity to interact with humans, and can respond in more complex ways. The software has become very popular, and more than 50 companies have focused on agents, agentic workflows, and agent infrastructure since 2022.