Capgemini, a leading technology services firm, has forecasted a groundbreaking shift in the workplace by 2025, with the advent of multi-agent AI systems. These sophisticated systems will consist of AI-powered agents collaborating to solve complex tasks autonomously. Pascal Brier, Capgemini’s chief innovation officer, shared insights on this transformative technology in a recent interview, highlighting its imminent impact across industries.
Brier emphasized that companies are already exploring these advanced AI agents, which are designed to operate independently, plan strategically, and execute complex workflows with minimal human oversight. Unlike traditional AI systems that follow preset instructions, these agents can adapt, interpret, and act on their own, making them capable of replacing human workers for certain tasks.
The United States is leading the charge in implementing this technology, while Europe is trailing behind. According to Capgemini’s new report, “Harnessing the Value of Generative AI,” a substantial 82% of surveyed companies plan to integrate AI agents within the next one to three years, showcasing a strong commitment to embracing this innovation.
The survey, which included over 1,100 companies with revenues exceeding $1 billion, revealed two main types of AI agents: individual agents that handle tasks independently and multi-agent systems where agents communicate and collaborate with each other. For instance, a marketing AI agent creating an ad campaign for a German market could autonomously coordinate with a legal AI agent to ensure compliance with local regulations.
Brier recounted the initial wave of AI adoption in 2022, which focused on understanding prompts and large language models (LLMs). Now, he explained, AI and generative AI are converging, creating sophisticated engines of knowledge. These new AI agents act as co-pilots or substitutes, automating tasks and enhancing productivity.
Capgemini’s report highlights that 71% of organizations expect AI agents to drive automation, while 64% believe they will free human workers from repetitive tasks, allowing them to concentrate on more value-added functions like enhancing customer experience.
The adoption of generative AI is accelerating, with a fourfold increase in the number of organizations integrating it into their operations. While only 6% of firms had adopted generative AI in 2023, this number surged to 24% this year. However, smaller companies are lagging in adoption compared to larger enterprises. For example, 49% of firms with annual revenues over $20 billion are implementing generative AI, whereas only 10% of companies with revenues between $1 billion and $5 billion are doing so.
Industry-specific adoption rates also vary significantly. The aerospace and defense sector leads the way, with 88% of organizations investing in generative AI, while the retail sector sees a lower adoption rate at 66%. According to Brier, larger companies have the advantage of conducting more extensive generative AI experiments, enabling faster and more significant results due to their substantial investments.
Capgemini’s bold prediction underscores the rapid evolution of AI technology and its potential to revolutionize how businesses operate. As AI-powered agents become more prevalent, they are poised to transform industries, automate tasks, and enhance human productivity on an unprecedented scale.
