Major companies across America are making big changes to how they think about AI agents and workforce training. This week's news shows businesses are moving fast to prepare their workers for a future filled with agentic AI tools.

Walmart made the biggest splash with its announcement of a new AI skills program launching next year. The retail giant, which employs more people than any other private company in America, is partnering with OpenAI to train workers on AI tools. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the company already has over 200,000 workers doing jobs that didn't exist a decade ago, like picking online orders. He thinks AI will create even more new jobs that pay better than old ones.

The training push isn't just happening at Walmart. Online learning platform Udemy reported that AI course enrollments jumped five times higher this year, with over 11 million people worldwide taking AI classes. Every minute, about five to eight people sign up for an AI course on their platform. Companies are shifting their training budgets away from one-time events toward continuous skill building that happens as part of daily work.

Businesses are especially focused on tools that act like AI agents - programs that can work alongside humans to get things done. Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot are becoming very popular. These tools help workers write code, answer customer questions, and solve problems faster than before.

However, new research from Yale University brought surprising news about AI's impact on jobs. The study looked at employment data for 33 months since ChatGPT launched and found no signs of major job losses. Industries that use AI the most, like finance and professional services, did see some changes, but these trends started before ChatGPT even existed.

The research team found that skills are becoming outdated faster - now in just two to three years instead of decades. This is pushing companies to think differently about training. Instead of teaching workers once and expecting those skills to last, businesses now treat learning like fitness - something that needs constant work.

One area where AI agents are having a real impact is entry-level hiring. The Yale research found that new college graduates are having a slightly harder time finding jobs. Some companies admit they're being more careful about hiring junior workers because AI can now do many tasks that entry-level employees used to handle.

But the story isn't all negative for young workers. Companies like Shopify and Cloudflare are actually increasing their intern programs this year. They say AI tools help new hires contribute to teams much faster than before. As one programmer explained, "An intern armed with AI tools can produce value a whole lot faster than interns in previous years."

Businesses are also exploring how AI productivity gains could change work schedules. Some companies think AI-driven automation could make four-day work weeks possible without hurting performance. A recent study found that people using AI in customer support, software development, and consulting saw productivity increase by 5% to 25%.

The financial numbers show how serious companies are about AI training. The market for AI in education and corporate training is expected to grow to $32 billion by 2030 and possibly $127 billion by 2035. This includes everything from K-12 schools to corporate training programs.

Companies are taking different approaches to managing AI risks. Many are now required to tell investors about AI-related risks in their financial reports. This shows that business leaders see AI as something that could significantly impact their operations, both positively and negatively.

The week's news suggests that while fears about AI causing mass unemployment haven't come true yet, businesses are still preparing for major changes. The focus has shifted from worrying about job losses to figuring out how to train workers effectively for an AI-powered workplace. Companies that get this training right could gain a big advantage over competitors who move more slowly.