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Forbes
21-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Next Industrial Revolution: AI Agents At The Heart Of Transformation
Agentic AI is at the forefront of businesses of the future. The manufacturing sector has always been at the forefront of innovation. From the steam engine to the assembly line, each leap has redefined what's possible on the shop floor. Today, we stand at the threshold of another seismic shift—one powered not just by machines, but by intelligence itself. The World Economic Forum's latest whitepaper, 'Frontier Technologies in Industrial Operations: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence Agents,' paints a compelling picture of this new era. Why Now? The Case for Frontier Technologies Industrial operations have long relied on innovations such as robotics and the industrial internet of things (IIoT) to drive productivity and efficiency. But the challenges facing manufacturers today are as complex as they are urgent. Labor shortages, rising costs, volatile supply chains, and the relentless push for sustainability are all converging. Manufacturers must not only optimize cost and efficiency but also adapt to rapid change, ensure resilience, and meet sustainability goals. Traditional technologies, while powerful, are no longer enough to meet these demands. The answer lies in embracing what the WEF call 'frontier technologies." Those that push the boundaries of what's possible and unlock new forms of collaborative intelligence between humans and machines. But why the focus on AI agents, and why now? The answer is simple: AI agents are not just another tool in the digital toolbox. They represent a new paradigm—one where software and robots can autonomously perceive, decide, and act, freeing up human workers to focus on creativity, strategy, and innovation. The Rise of AI Agents: Virtual and Embodied Success requires a leap beyond incremental improvement—toward near-autonomous, AI-centric operations that empower people and machines to collaborate seamlessly. The whitepaper highlights two main types of AI agents driving this transformation: Virtual AI agents operate within software environments. Think of them as digital colleagues—always on, always learning, and capable of making decisions in real time. These agents can act as assistants, advisers, or even fully autonomous controllers, handling everything from production scheduling to predictive maintenance. For example, a virtual AI agent might monitor a production line, identify bottlenecks, and automatically adjust workflows to optimize throughput. In supply chain management, these agents can analyze vast amounts of data, anticipate disruptions, and recommend alternative sourcing strategies—often before a human would even notice a problem. Embodied AI agents take things a step further. These are robots equipped with advanced AI, capable of perceiving and interacting with the physical world. Unlike traditional robots, which are limited to repetitive, pre-programmed tasks, embodied AI agents can adapt to changing environments, handle complex assemblies, and even collaborate safely alongside human workers. Picture a robot that can not only pick and place components but also recognize when a part is defective, adjust its grip, or reroute itself to avoid an obstacle—no manual intervention required. This is the promise of embodied AI: robotics that are as flexible and intuitive as the people working beside them. Redefining the Human Role One of the most exciting—and perhaps misunderstood—aspects of this transformation is the role of people. Karim Lakhani, a professor at Harvard Business School, when asked, 'Will AI replace humans?', famously replied, 'Of course AI won't replace humans. But humans with AI will replace humans without AI.' Far from replacing humans, AI agents are designed to augment human capabilities. As operations become more autonomous, the role of the worker evolves from hands-on operator to orchestrator and innovator. Strategic Imperatives: Building the Foundations Of course, realizing the full potential of AI agents requires more than just deploying new technology. Manufacturers must lay strong organizational and technological foundations: Looking Ahead: From Experimentation to Transformation The journey to AI-driven, near-autonomous operations is just beginning. Early adopters are already seeing tangible benefits, from reduced energy consumption to higher product quality and more resilient supply chains. But the real prize lies ahead: a future where manufacturers can respond to change with agility, drive sustainable growth, and empower their people like never before. As the white paper concludes, manufacturers who embrace frontier technologies today will be the leaders of tomorrow. The Intelligent Age is here—are you ready to seize it? Want to learn more about how AI-powered supply chains meet today's needs while preparing for tomorrow? Check out this IDC Analyst Brief: 'AI-Powered Business Suite for Supply Chain."
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Is AI About Relationships?
In a way, the new technologies that we are seeing really highlight the role of humans in our world. Sure, we're using them to build things autonomously. There will be job displacement. But at the same time, there are stakeholder relationships that really make a difference day to day. For now, humans are still in the driver's seat. Navin Chaddha runs Mayfield, an investment firm that invests in seed rounds and A rounds, as well as B rounds of funding. The company boasts 120 IPOs and over 225 mergers and acquisitions. I interviewed Chaddha at Imagination in Action in April about the moving parts involved in making AI -related deals. One thing that came through is that as an investor, Chaddha wants to invest with partners early. 'The basic idea is, how do we become partners of entrepreneurs at the ideation stage, primarily when they are coming up with an idea, and help them create a company?' he said. 'We start with people, because our belief is people build products. People build companies. It's not the other way around.' Other suggestions offered by Chaddha in investment strategy involved looking for products that fit solutions, and valuing an approach over a time frame. He mentioned AI-native design as a goal. 'Our belief is (that) AI will manifest digital companions who collaborate with humans to help elevate them to become super-humans,' he said, promoting an idea he described as 'collaborative intelligence as a service' or, alternately, 'teammates as a service.' AI Teammates Karen Lee 'Every business function, every consumer function, is going to have a buddy, a teammate,' he said. At one point, talk turned to how humans and machines will communicate in the years ahead. After the iPhone, Chaddha suggested, it's hard to have a new user interface, but verbal chat, he imagined, could become the way of the future, for no-hands communication. 'The interface will be natural language,' he said. Evolution of User Interfaces Karen Lee We also talked about what I called 'the cognitive economy' and augmented intelligence. '(AI is) allowing humans to have cognitive capabilities, and together we're going to be able to do things which we weren't able to do before,' Chaddha said, invoking the ideas of superhuman speed and superhuman cognition. 'AI is a tool. It's a technology. We are the jockey, we're not the horse.' I also wanted to talk about Chaddha's assertion that we should be doing more events about AI in these years. 'We invest in relationships,' he said. 'Let's grow the pie. Let's bring the brightest people to the right relationships.' That jibed with me, as I want to continue putting on these events and setting up the broadest tent possible. I'll be bringing you more from IIA's April event soon, to showcase all of what went on, and why it matters. More resources here: Navin's World Economic Forum article on AI Teammates and a deep dive into Collaborative Intelligence as a Service.
