Important points of ZDNET
- Self-learning and self-improvement technologies transform enterprise activity.
- From expanded leadership to customer machinery, analyst Gartner identifies key trends.
- Truly autonomous business is a long way to go, but smart business leaders are now preparing.
The future of your business is autonomous. While there is much debate about the exchange of workers through artificial intelligence in workers, future organizations will be built on emerging technologies to create new ways of working and running.
This is according to Gabriela Vogel, vice president of executive leadership for digital business practices at research firm Gartner, “The digital future is an autonomous business, and AI is the tool leading this business change.”
Additionally, autonomous business is driven by AI agents
While the hype around AI over the past few years has been focused on the impact of generated AI, future autonomous businesses will raise digital transformations to a higher level where new combinations of technology and data offer new business models.
“AI is a tool. It's not just a change in business,” says Vogel. “Autonomical business is when there is a strategy to use self-learning and self-improvement techniques to optimize value creation and delivery.”
Humans play an important role in traditional business models. But Vogel told ZDNET that Agent AI will change everything as agents autonomously discover, negotiate and trade.
“So, first you had analog, then you had e-commerce, then you went to digital. And now the new phase is autonomous business, with four main components.
1. Autonomous Operation
Vogel said that operations digitisation uses technologies such as Internet of Things-enabled sensors to automate elements of business operations.
“These sensors are, “Look, they need this number of lubricants and they're at a lower level, so they need to sort.”
Also: How AI agents will generate $450 billion by 2028 and what gets in the way
Autonomous operations go further, removing humans from the loop for independent decisions. Vogel gave two examples:
“John Deere has a robot with a 360-degree camera that calculates where fertilizer is needed and applies it very accurately,” she said. “And Ford has created a patent for self-driving cars that return to the showroom if a client misses payment.”
2. Extended Leadership
Executives in the Digital Phase of Leadership use a cloud-based platform to see insights into business performance.
Vogel mentioned HR experts who use Workday technology to verify employee-related information.
Also: Five Ways to Integrate AI Agents into the Workplace
Expanded leadership offers a new level of analysis with positive proposals.
“Legal technology providers use solutions to autonomously identify contract vulnerabilities and suggest what leadership teams should do,” she said. “This technology improves leadership capabilities that can speed up time. It allows you to focus on other things that are more important to your business.”
3. Auto-adaptable products
Here, Vogel said the digital phase of the product includes insurers that provide apps for clients to check for potential coverage.
During the autonomous phase, automating products use emerging technologies to automate change.
Also, conversations from one million customers with AI agents have brought this incredible lesson
Vogel referenced Next Insurance, an organization that uses AI and machine learning to simplify the purchasing process.
“The company has products aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, and uses APIs and agent AI tools to adjust its policies according to market changes and business risks,” she said.
“This type of approach eliminates the need for a manual update process. Therefore, technology works autonomously and tells client businesses, “Here are your contracts and these are adjustments made for you.” ”
4. Machines as a customer
Vogel said the machine that serves as a customer is HP Instant Ink. This is an internet-enabled service that automatically distributes ink when users are running out of users.
She said retail giant Walmart has deployed AI-enabled machines to negotiate with suppliers of products that are not sold to consumers, such as retail equipment and shopping carts.
Also: The biggest impact on the AI workforce is still coming – three ways to avoid being left behind
Vogel suggested that agent sales interactions are more common.
“We're beginning to see this relationship between our seller bots and our customer bots,” she said. “Another example is Tesla vehicles. These vehicles can diagnose the problem itself and pre-order the parts you need.”
What is a programmable economy?
Vogel said the transition to autonomous business is set up within a programmable economy, with Gartner defining it as a sensible economic system that supports or manages the production and consumption of goods and services.
“Everything I've been talking about is embedded in a programmable economy,” she said. “When you have all these elements, you get a totally autonomous business.”
Also, according to business leaders, 5 ways to become a great AI agent manager
While examples of digital economies may include mobile payments for using bikes in urban areas, Vogel said a good example of a transition to a programmable economy is a pilot with Daimler Truck, where trucks can communicate autonomously with other machines and carry out legally binding transactions such as payments.
“These trucks have their own identity and legal status, replacing value services such as charging electric vehicles and “Well, they need to charge, we pay in advance,” she said. “In this example, the machine pays for other machines. This is a cool example that is still in the prototype. But without a doubt, the company will soon start operating in a programmable economy.”
When will autonomous business become a reality?
The key point, Vogel said, is that it is unlikely that autonomous businesses will appear tomorrow.
“It's going to be a big deal around 2045. That's what we're projecting,” she said. “So, yeah, it's going to take a while.”
However, early buds of growth can already be seen. Vogel said over three-quarters of CEOs (77%) believe AI will have a major impact on the industry over the next three years.
Also, 5 tips for building a basic AI model
As she proposed earlier, AI plays an important enabler role in establishing autonomous businesses, and Gartner's research suggests that many organizations are not prepared for this shift.
“When I ask the CEO, only 29% say they are ready, “Is your operating model ready for this new world of AI?” So there's a lot to do. ”
Why should you worry about autonomous business now?
Let's be honest: 20 years is a long time and a lifetime in a fast world of enterprise technology.
But Vogel said there is no room for self-satisfaction. Business and digital leaders who want to move forward must begin preparing for autonomous business.
Also: 4 questions to ask yourself before betting on AI in your business – and why
“Some companies are working on that right now and know that when these systems start to make autonomous decisions, these organizations have competitive advantages,” she said.
Vogel said some industries move faster than others. Even if your organization is in a slower sector, you should still consider options now.
Also: How AI will amplify these other tech trends that are most important for business in 2025
“Auto-disciplinary business is like S-Curve. In 20 years, it will start to increase until everyone is talking,” she said.
“We can start preparing our basic skills and make the right moves where we want to create a more autonomous workforce.”
Want more stories about AI? Sign up for Innovationour weekly newsletter.
