Businesses around the world are moving AI agents from testing to real work this week, marking a major shift in how companies operate. Agentic AI—software that can make decisions and take actions on its own—is becoming a normal part of business tools, not something special anymore. About 40% of business applications are expected to have AI agents built in by 2026, up from just a few years ago when almost nobody used them.

In manufacturing, companies like Hyundai and Audi are now using physical robots and AI to handle work that people used to do by hand. A recent survey showed that 58% of manufacturers are already using some form of AI robots, and 80% plan to use them in the next two years. These aren't just simple machines—they can understand their surroundings, plan what to do next, and work alongside people safely.

However, companies are learning that having AI agents is not enough—they need to control them properly. AI governance, which means having rules and oversight for AI, is moving from just being policies on paper to becoming part of how companies actually work. Leaders are now focusing on trust, visibility, and control as they let AI make more decisions. Companies are also watching out for "shadow AI"—when workers use AI tools without telling their company, which can cause problems.

The big change happening right now is that AI agents are moving from being helper tools to being decision-makers that can act without waiting for human approval. In energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure, AI is now being used every day to manage complex operations and keep things running smoothly. Companies have realized that orchestration—which means coordinating multiple AI agents to work together—is key to making AI actually useful at scale.