How Enterprise-Ready AI Agents Are Changing the Way Companies Operate

In today’s fast-paced business market conditions, companies need to think of ways to ensure that they come up with the best practices. This can be done with the help of Generative AI (GenAI) using a smooth plan, having guidelines, and ensuring safety.

Over the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has transitioned from research labs to the world of business. This is because of the rise of AI agents. They are intelligent tools that can answer queries & perform important tasks. 

In an interview with Times Now Tech, Ankur Kothari, who is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Automation Anywhere, spoke about how these tools can help business reshape their operations globally.

Kothari feels that the emergence of generative AI is a crucial milestone for this to happen. Though many users feel that AI tools can only answer questions, they can do a lot more. He said that, “In the enterprise realm, the crucial question is: can you also get the job done?” 

“It’s not just about knowing how many Paid Time Off (PTO) days you have; you want your AI assistant to apply for that PTO, manage out-of-office notifications, handle expense reports, and much more. Initially, GenAI focused predominantly on answering questions. 

Our vision, however, is to seamlessly integrate it with various AI and automation technologies.” To unlock the true potential of AI within automation, Kothari emphasizes the need for executing processes and completing tasks effectively. 

“People are not merely seeking assistants; they’re looking for AI that can shoulder their workload. For instance, as a support representative, receiving answers from AI is invaluable. But what’s even more critical is being able to ask my AI assistant to resolve a support query on my behalf.”

When a support representative receives a customer inquiry, Kothari asserts that the AI assistant should confidently assume control of the process. By leveraging a process reasoning engine, it can identify necessary steps, secure approvals, execute tasks, and craft clear, coherent email responses for customers. 

“This,” he explains, “captures the essence of merging AI with automation, not just answering questions but truly delivering results.” When asked about how Automation Anywhere safeguards the responsible and accurate use of GenAI in enterprises, thus thwarting misuse and inaccuracies, Kothari highlights, “Our platform is built on 20 years of maturity, integrating numerous guardrails and governance measures to ensure security. 

Our tools are trusted by some of the largest banks and healthcare organizations, where security is non-negotiable.” “Moreover,” he continues, “we collaborate closely with our partners to ensure that our customers adhere to best practices when implementing AI. 

Our platform comes fortified with governance structures and safeguards, and our partners and customers work together to establish Centres of Excellence that guarantee AI is deployed effectively, avoiding the common pitfalls encountered by many enterprises.”

Kothari candidly acknowledges that the adoption of AI agents in enterprises is still in its early chapters. In the past two years, as generative AI rapidly evolved, the primary challenge remains education and understanding. Like any groundbreaking technology, organizations need time to harness its capabilities fully.

While AI agents are now omnipresent, Kothari observes that people are still navigating the learning curve and eagerly seeking more in-depth knowledge. An important distinction to make is that not all AI agents are created equal. 

Some serve merely as personal productivity tools, helpful, yes, but lacking the broader business advantages provided by more sophisticated AI agents. Kothari elaborates on the second category: captive AI agents, which are designed to operate solely within one specific software platform. 

This limitation leads to disjointed systems that hinder collaboration across different tools or teams. A conflict arises here; vendors that develop these agents often aim to sell the same number of software licenses while charging extra for AI capabilities. 

Customers, when they begin to effectively utilize AI, often discover that they no longer need as many licenses. “What we are committed to creating is enterprise-wide AI agents that transcend team boundaries, align seamlessly with any system, and engage every individual across departments.” 

“These agents possess the power to genuinely resonate with customers and drive substantial value across all types of AI,” he asserts. Kothari emphasizes that we are merely at the beginning of this journey, stating, “People are still trying to comprehend what these AI agents can truly achieve. 

Not all AI agents function in the same way.” Businesses must commit to learning how to leverage them effectively, establishing clear guidelines, upholding best practices, and ensuring safe usage. 

The ultimate goal is not just to cut costs but also to mitigate risks, drive revenue, uncover new avenues for growth, and streamline operations.