CEOs Discuss Agentic AI's Thrills and Terrors

Business leaders are grappling with the implications of agentic AI—systems capable of independent thought, decision-making, and action. These advanced tools are poised to fundamentally alter business operations, customer interactions, and security protocols, according to insights from a Fast Company survey.

"AI is no longer just creating. It is thinking, deciding and acting. That changes everything," said Varun Krishna, CEO of Rocket Companies. Ndidi Oteh, who leads Accenture Song, noted that increasingly sophisticated agentic tools expose organizational weaknesses like siloed data and outdated workflows, potentially slowing down companies just as speed becomes critical.

While the potential for agentic AI to empower businesses is recognized, some express skepticism about current capabilities. "Most of what people are calling agentic is just automation with better marketing," stated Meng Ru Kuok, CEO of BandLab. He added that truly autonomous systems, capable of fully independent judgment, are not yet widespread.

Leadership perspectives, including those from American Express and Sephora, consistently pointed to a lack of readiness. Charles Yang, CEO of Vibe, urged a proactive approach: "Readiness is not the right frame. The right frame is: Are you in the water? Because you can't learn to swim from the shore."

Executives anticipate significant productivity gains. Steve Squeri, CEO of American Express, cited a 30% reduction in coding cycle times due to AI-assisted development and foresees AI agents handling complex tasks like complete travel arrangements. However, concerns remain about the quality of output amidst increased speed and the crucial issue of accountability when autonomous agents make errors, a challenge many companies have yet to address.