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How Businesses Can Get the Most Out of AI Agents
In recent years, we’ve seen the emergence of AI agent-based products designed to automate workloads across nearly every function. This shift marks a significant turning point in the workforce, as organizations now have the ability to achieve increased productivity and lower expenses without increasing headcount.
One of the most promising applications of AI agents is in the realm of data and analytics. AI agents can help automate many mundane tasks that were previously handled by human analysts, freeing them up to focus on more strategic and high-value activities. This can include automating tasks such as building pipelines, data models, reports, dashboards, optimizing query performance and cost, and monitoring data issues.
However, the effectiveness of AI agents in this space is contingent upon their ability to navigate complex requests from business users. In order for AI agents to be truly effective, they must possess a deep understanding of the existing data model and connections between different data assets. This is where the concept of a universal semantic layer comes into play.
A universal semantic layer is a critical framework that maps business-level definitions, key performance indicators (KPIs), and organizational corporate jargon to data fields. By providing this context, AI agents can clarify requests from users, determine whether they have access to the necessary data assets, and provide accurate responses in a timely manner.
The implementation of such a layer requires significant upfront investment but holds enormous potential for organizations that take the initiative. By providing AI agents with the ability to truly understand the nuances of business queries, organizations can unlock significant cost savings, optimize workflows and productivity, drive innovation, and accelerate insights that benefit the business.
To achieve this, businesses must prioritize training and change management throughout their organization. The technology itself may be simple, but the effort required to implement it is substantial. It’s essential to ensure a seamless transition for all stakeholders.
Ultimately, organizations that successfully implement AI agents will not only see significant productivity gains but also gain a competitive edge in an increasingly fast-paced and dynamic business environment.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2025/04/03/how-businesses-can-get-the-most-out-of-ai-agents/
