AI Agents: The Future of Doing, Not Just Creating
January 13, 2025
For many people, the term “AI” is associated with tools like ChatGPT that generate content: an article, a report, or a marketing module. But recent AI developments have moved far beyond that. Today, AI agents represent a new frontier—not just creating, but doing.
This distinction is critical for business leaders who are starting to explore how AI can transform their organisations.
Let me explain what AI agents are and how they differ from the AI tools you are probably familiar with.
AI: Creation vs Action
‘Traditional’ (funny that we say that when they are only a couple of years old) AI tools like ChatGPT excel at generating content. For instance, you can ask it to write a training module and it will provide a draft. But at the end of that process, you still need to take that module and do something with it—format it, upload it to your learning management system, notify your team, and track usage.
An AI agent, on the other hand, doesn’t stop at creation—it takes the entire workflow and executes it end-to-end. It’s like a highly skilled virtual employee. For example, we built an agent a couple of weeks ago that:
Writes a training module.
Illustrates it with graphics and infographics.
Creates a PowerPoint.
Uploads the module to the learning management system.
Notifies people of the new module.
Tracks completion rates.
Compiles a report on course engagement.
All we had to do was give it the topic for the training and any other references or content we wanted it to include. We added in a couple of ‘check here with a person’ steps along the way just to be cautious.
In other words, an AI agent produces outcomes without requiring human intervention at every step.
What Exactly Is an AI Agent?
Think of an AI agent as a sequence of instructions—similar to the procedures you write for employees to follow. But instead of a person, the instructions are executed by a chain of interconnected AI tools.
For advanced users of tools like ChatGPT, this might sound familiar. You may know that you can make GPTs (specialised versions of ChatGPT) which can chain multiple prompts together to perform more complex tasks. But AI agents take this concept to the next level by integrating external tools and software.
For example, an AI agent can do all of the following in sequence with no human involvement after setting the initial trigger:
Pull data from a spreadsheet.
Use a PowerPoint plugin to create a presentation.
Use video software to generate a script and create customised AI videos of you reading the script with your image and your voice.
Leverage a CRM system to send personalised emails.
Compile results into a report and deliver it to you.
This is more than just a single tool doing one task. It’s a connected ecosystem of AI tools, sequenced to complete a workflow with precision and speed.
A Real Example in Action
To illustrate the power of AI agents, I recently created a demo one that performed an entire marketing workflow. I also recorded a video of this process (linked at the end of this article) to demonstrate what’s possible in just a few minutes.
Here’s what the agent did:
It researched a topic I wanted to write about.
It drafted a newsletter on that topic.
It created a YouTube script based on the research.
It generated headlines and titles for all content.
It sent the YouTube script to an external tool that used an AI version of me (created with a two-minute video sample of my appearance and voice) to generate a video of “me” presenting the script.
With a single click, this agent completed a task that would have taken hours—or even days—if done manually.
But that’s just the beginning. Instead of running one task, I could have dropped in a spreadsheet of 100 topics. The agent would have generated 100 newsletters, scripts, and videos—scaling effortlessly.
What This Means for Your Business
For CEOs of growing companies, AI agents represent an unprecedented opportunity to scale operations and innovate. Here are just a few potential use cases:
Automating complex workflows in marketing, HR, or operations.
Streamlining compliance processes with real-time updates.
Rapid development of staff or customer training materials.
Managing customer interactions across multiple platforms.
Unlike traditional AI tools that require manual intervention, AI agents handle workflows autonomously, saving time, reducing errors, and freeing up your team to focus on high-value work.
Why CEOs Need to Pay Attention
The adoption of AI agents isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s rapidly becoming a necessity. Companies that embrace this technology will achieve operational efficiencies, faster decision-making, and improved customer experiences.
But implementing AI agents requires a mindset shift. Leaders need to think beyond simple tools and start envisioning workflows that can be fully automated. The key is to identify repetitive, high-impact tasks and map out the steps an AI agent could take to handle them.
If you are not considering implementing agents in your business in a careful and controlled way, your employees will probably do it behind the scenes without the controls in place!
If you’re already using tools like ChatGPT, consider this as “ChatGPT on steroids.” AI agents aren’t just about generating content—they’re about delivering outcomes.
See It in Action
I’ve attached a short video demonstrating what’s possible with an AI agent. While the task I ran was completed in under five minutes, the possibilities for scaling are endless.
Imagine what this could mean for your business: reduced costs, increased productivity, and the ability to innovate faster than ever before.
If you’d like to discuss how AI agents could be applied in your organisation, feel free to get in touch.
The future of work isn’t just about creating—it’s about doing. And AI agents are here to make that future a reality.
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