Trading Weekly AI News
January 26 - February 3, 2026Agentic AI is reshaping how businesses operate in 2026, moving far beyond simple chatbots into systems that make real decisions and take actions on their own. Unlike older AI tools that just generate text, these AI agents can handle complex tasks like negotiating with suppliers, managing inventory, and even creating marketing plans with little human help. Walmart has already used agentic AI to negotiate 64% of its vendor agreements, saving money and making suppliers happier. Experts predict this technology will grow from $2.6 billion in 2024 to over $24 billion by 2030. Companies like UiPath and Alphabet (Google) are leading the charge by building the tools and infrastructure that make agentic AI possible. Real estate companies and retailers are early adopters, using AI agents to handle tasks like managing employee schedules, checking inventory in real time, and even creating event calendars based on what customers like. However, businesses need to be careful about risks like losing control of AI systems and making sure the AI doesn't make biased decisions. The technology is still new, and only 2% of Canadian companies surveyed had actually seen money savings from their AI investments so far. But experts say that companies brave enough to adopt agentic AI now will have a huge advantage over competitors in 2026 and beyond.