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ZDNET's key takeaways
Companies are investing in agents and cutting staff.
Agents will change the workplace, but not overnight.
Focus on developing analysis and collaboration skills.
There's a good chance you use AI every day at work. Whether you're a software developer who's using coding tools to cut the bind associated with programming and testing, or a line-of-business professional looking to remove repetitive work processes, right now, businesses want AI to be more of a help than a hindrance. But for many, the threat of https://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-job-anxiety-labor-indicator-forrester/ looms large.
Welcome to the age of the autonomous business, where new combinations of technology and data mean fresh operating models, where some of the roles we take for granted today -- from basic operational tasks up to decision-making responsibilities -- are fulfilled by agents that discover, negotiate, and transact autonomously.
Also: AI is causing cognitive fatigue. Here's how to work with more haste and less speed
Gartner suggests companies are increasing their investments in agents, with AI agent software spending set to reach $206.5 billion in 2026 and $376.3 billion in 2027, up from $86.4 billion in 2025. As spending increases, companies are discovering that agents can help cut labor costs. About 80% of businesses piloting or deploying autonomous business capabilities report workforce reductions.
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