Synopsis
A practical, non-technical guide for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and curious minds
"Agents are (…) bringing about the biggest revolution in computing since we went from typing commands to tapping on icons." — Bill Gates
"AI agents will become the primary way we interact with computers in the future.” — Satya Nadella
"The age of agentic AI is here"— Jensen Huang
In a world where ChatGPT took us by storm, a far more powerful revolution is unfolding: AI Agents. Like Jarvis in Iron Man or Samantha in Her, these intelligent systems can execute actions, learn from experience, and orchestrate digital interactions with minimal human supervision. They promise to redefine business and society.
However, behind the excitement lies a crucial reality: a significant gap between promise and reality.
This comprehensive guide on agentic AI cuts through the hype and offers a clear, jargon-free strategic roadmap to understanding and applying this technology. The authors bring a rare perspective, having implemented agentic AI across diverse organizations—from global enterprises to agile startups—witnessing both remarkable successes and sobering failures.
Through illuminating case studies and hands-on experiments, the authors reveal:
A step-by-step method for identifying high-value agentic opportunities and building impactful agents in your business, work, and personal life
The secrets behind today's most successful agentic transformations at scale: cutting costs by over 25% while boosting customer satisfaction by over 40%
Approaches to seize the new opportunities of the Agent Economy—new business models, Agentic-driven startups, rapid scaling, and game-changing revenue opportunities.
Hands-on guidance to navigate common pitfalls such as workflow integration, error handling, data quality, agent control, and user adoption
The new mindset and skills required to lead effectively in a world where humans and AI agents need to work seamlessly together
The profound impact of agentic AI on society, employment, education, and our personal lives
AI agents create what the authors call "compounding intelligence advantages"—the more they're used, the smarter they become, creating an accelerating gap between early adopters and laggards. Hence, those who understand and leverage AI agents today will define the next business era.
The question isn’t whether AI agents will transform your industry—it’s how you will lead that change. Every revolution demands foresight and responsibility. This book challenges you to not just adopt agentic AI, but to shape it with purpose and integrity.
About the Authors
Pascal Bornet is an award-winning expert, author, and keynote speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Automation. He has received multiple awards and is regularly ranked among the top 10 global AI and Automation experts. He is also an influencer with over two million social media followers.Bornet developed his expertise over more than two decades as a senior executive at McKinsey and EY, where he established and spearheaded their "Intelligent Automation" practices. During this time, he implemented AI and Automation initiatives for hundreds of organizations worldwide, driving transformative change across industries.He has authored two best-selling books, "INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION" and "IRREPLACEABLE." His insights have been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg, McKinsey Quarterly, and The Times. He is also a lecturer at several universities, a member of the Forbes Technology Council, and a Senior Advisor for several startups and charities. For the past 20 years, Bornet's research has focused on the intersection of AI and Humans, where he believes the most significant value lies. He is a fervent advocate for human-centric AI and believes that with the right approach, AI can make our world more human.Discover more about Bornet at www.linkedin.com/in/pascalbornet/
Professor Jochen Wirtz is Vice Dean MBA Programmes and Professor of Marketing at the National University of Singapore. He is a leading authority on service management with more than 200 publications. His over 20 books include Intelligent Automation: Learn How to Harness Artificial Intelligence to Boost Business & Make Our World More Human (2021), Services Marketing: People, Technology, Strategy (9th edition, 2022), and Essentials of Services Marketing (4th edition, 2023). With translations and adaptations for over 26 countries and regions, and combined sales of over 1 million copies, they have become globally leading services marketing textbooks. In addition to his publications, Prof. Wirtz has been recognized as one of the 86 highly cited researchers in economics and business in 2023 (Web of Science). This distinction places him among the world's most prominent researchers, as highlighted by the Highly Cited Researchers 2023 (list published by data analytics firm Clarivate). This recognition underscores his profound impact on both academic research and managerial practice. Prof. Wirtz's ongoing contributions ensure that he remains at the forefront of his field, where his expertise continues to shape the strategies of service businesses worldwide. Follow Jochen on LinkedIn (https: //www.linkedin.com/in/jochenwirtz), YouTube (https: //www.youtube.com/c/ProfessorJochenWirtz), and ResearchGate (https: //www.researchgate.net/profile/Jochen-Wirtz) .
Tom Davenport is the President's Distinguished Professor of Information Technology and Management at Babson College, a Fellow of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, and a Senior Advisor to Deloitte's Chief Data and Analytics Officer Program. In 2024-5 he is the Bodily Bicentennial Professor of Analytics at the UVA Darden School of Business. He pioneered the concept of "competing on analytics" with his best-selling 2006 Harvard Business Review article and his 2007 book by the same name. He has published 25 books and over 300 articles for Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and many other publications. His most recent book is All Hands on Tech: The AI-Powered Citizen Revolution, co-authored with Ian Barkin. He writes columns for Forbes, MIT Sloan Management Review, and the Wall Street Journal. He has been named one of the world's "Top 25 Consultants" by Consulting magazine, one of the top 3 business/technology analysts in the world by Optimize magazine, one of the 100 most influential people in the IT industry by Ziff-Davis magazines, and one of the world's top fifty business school professors by Fortune magazine. He's also been a LinkedIn Top Voice for both the education and tech sectors.
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