AI agents are set to transform the economy as we know it, with Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff predicting that today’s business leaders will be the last to lead all-human workforces. The future will require managing humans and AI agents side by side, introducing new challenges and opportunities for leadership.
AI agents, considered the third wave of AI, advance past predictive and generative AI and build on the progress of chatbots and AI assistants. They go beyond traditional automation, by searching for the necessary data inside an organisation, analyse and reason over this data to formulate a plan and then execute a plan. Agents let users set rules for their actions and when to involve humans. This allows workers to focus on more meaningful tasks, boosting productivity and job satisfaction.
Economic impact of AI
AI is expected to be worth $22.17 trillion to the global economy by 2030. In Australia alone, digital innovations, including AI, could cumulatively contribute $315 billion to the Australian economy by 2030.
Agentic AI is poised to drive significant economic growth and productivity. According to IDC forecasts, global spending on AI solutions is expected to reach $307 billion in 2025. The cumulative economic impact of AI through 2030 is projected to be $19.9 trillion, contributing 3.5 per cent to global GDP by the end of the decade.
Gartner predicts that by 2028, at least 15 per cent of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI, up from 0 per cent in 2024, and Deloitte predicts this year 25 per cent of companies utilising generative AI will initiate agentic AI pilots or proofs of concept, with this figure expected to grow to 50 per cent by 2027.
Agentic AI and government
The Australian government has enormous opportunities to use AI agents safely, making services faster and more personal. AI agents can streamline workflows and reduce bureaucratic delays; predict infection trends; analyse congestion patterns; tailor learning experiences and forecast natural disasters to better coordinate relief efforts. All of this will help build trust in government’s use of AI.
Salesforce research shows overwhelming public support for AI solutions, with 90 per cent of global constituents saying they’d use an AI agent to engage with their government. When thinking about using AI in government, the three things most important to respondents were 24/7 access to information and services (47 per cent); easy access to resources (44 per cent); and fewer websites and steps to get help (40 per cent).
AI agents and public policy considerations
The Next Frontier in Enterprise AI: Shaping Public Policies For Trusted AI Agents, outlines key considerations for designing and using AI agents, and describes how enterprise AI can help ensure this is done in a safe and responsible way. It also provides a series of recommendations for policymakers who want to accelerate adoption of these new, productivity-enhancing tools.
These include the Australian government appointing a Chief AI Officer to help with the implementation of the framework for the ethical and humane use of technology within the Australian government and as it applies to digital government services. Salesforce has also advocated for an Office of Artificial Intelligence, within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources to lead in coordination efforts relating to AI, as has occurred in the United Kingdom.
Expanding public-private partnerships for workforce reskilling is also key. The government’s plan for a network of AI Adopt centres to upskill SMEs and the National AI Centre’s ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence’ micro skill course through TAFE NSW are positive steps to build capability.
Australia is well positioned to leverage agentic AI. Australia already leads globally in autonomous mining operations, for example AI-driven vehicles and systems handle tasks like hauling, drilling, and safety monitoring.
We are at an inflection point with AI agents, Australia must ensure it remains at the forefront of this rapidly evolving technology.
Sassoon Grigorian is the Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy, APAC & Japan, for Salesforce.
This article was produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with Salesforce.
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