Is your workplace set up for AI agents?

The real productivity gains from AI require a redesign of organizations, not just the addition of AI to human-centered systems – similar to how factories once had to redesign around electricity. Current productivity estimates underestimate AI because they assume task automation within existing structures. Real benefits come from restructuring data into machine-readable formats, exposing systems via APIs, and removing silos to allow agents to work across domains. As AI reduces coordination and cognitive boundaries, human roles should shift from execution to responsibility and review – defining goals, making values-based judgments and ensuring accountability. With appropriate protections in place, agent-first organizations can achieve transformational, not just marginal, improvements.