This weekly update shows how AI agents are creating big changes in workplaces across the globe. These smart computer helpers are moving from test projects into real business operations faster than ever before.

Companies are making tough choices about workers. Nearly 4 out of 10 companies expect to replace some jobs with AI by 2026, according to a new survey of 1,000 business leaders in the United States. About 3 out of 10 companies say they have already replaced some jobs with AI. Half of these companies have stopped hiring new workers, and 39% have already laid off employees in 2025.

Real examples show different approaches. Salesforce, a major technology company, demonstrates how AI agents can quickly change operations. CEO Marc Benioff said AI agents now handle roughly half of all customer service calls, letting the company cut its support team from 9,000 to 5,000 workers. This happened in just eight months and freed up resources to focus on sales work.

But some companies choose a different path. Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon wants to keep all of the company's 2.1 million workers worldwide over the next three years. Instead of firing people, Walmart is creating new types of jobs like "agent developer" - workers who build AI tools to help automate tasks throughout the company. McMillon said the goal is to "create the opportunity for everybody to make it to the other side."

The timeline for change is getting faster. Research from McKinsey Global Institute predicts that by 2030, about 27 percent of work hours in Europe and 30 percent in the United States could be automated. This change is happening much quicker because of new generative AI technology. The economic impact could be huge - estimates range from $7 trillion to $13 trillion added to global economic activity over the next 10 years.

Certain jobs face higher risks than others. Workers in office support, customer service, data entry, and basic research face the biggest challenges. High-salary employees and those without AI-related skills also have higher risks for layoffs. However, new jobs are being created in areas like AI engineering, data science, machine learning, and robotics engineering.

AI agents are spreading across all business areas. Companies are putting these smart systems to work in sales, research, content creation, finance, and customer service. These AI agents can make decisions and create plans with very little human supervision. Sales platform Outreach launched AI agents that automatically handle finding new customers, follow-up messages, and email sequences.

Security becomes a new worry. As companies quickly move AI agents from testing into real business use, they face new cybersecurity threats. Organizations must build security, connectivity, and oversight into their AI agent systems from the start.

The skills gap creates urgent needs. Most company executives report having enough workers with basic skills, but they lack people with advanced technology skills like programming, data analysis, and math. Workers across all age groups prefer a mix of human and AI collaboration rather than AI-only or human-only approaches. Younger workers value the speed that AI brings, while experienced employees focus on the quality of human judgment.

Different industries face unique challenges. Sectors like construction, hospitality, and healthcare struggle more with worker shortages because they need people for hands-on work that cannot be easily automated. Meanwhile, professional services are seeing their traditional structure change as AI reduces the need for junior analysts and entry-level positions.

The message for workers is clear: Learning to work with AI becomes essential for job security. Companies that invest in training their workers to use AI tools, rather than just replacing them, are finding better results. The future workplace will likely combine human creativity and judgment with AI speed and efficiency.