Schmidt Reveals 'Agentic Revolution' Will Transform Business Processes Worldwide
AI agents that communicate with each other in natural language will fundamentally transform "every business process in every institution" across the developed world, according to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
This vision for what Schmidt calls the "agentic revolution" represents a more profound shift than the current focus on generative AI systems like ChatGPT, writes End of Miles.
Beyond chatbots: The coming workflow revolution
During a recent PARC Forum conversation with SRI CEO David Parekh, Schmidt pointed to a significant but underappreciated transformation happening alongside the generative AI boom.
"One of the things that's not been discussed because everyone's talking about ChatGPT and so forth, I'll give you, is the agentic revolution," Schmidt explained. "Agents are essentially things that do things and they typically speak to each other in English at the moment." Eric Schmidt
The tech veteran illustrated his point through a hypothetical housing project scenario where multiple AI agents would handle different aspects of purchasing land, navigating building codes, architectural design, construction, and even legal issues – all while communicating with one another.
"When you understand what I just said is transformative to every business process in every institution in at least the developed world, then you understand why people are so crazy over this." Former Google chief
How workflow automation changes everything
What makes Schmidt's vision particularly notable is how it extends beyond single-task automation to entire process chains. The Silicon Valley veteran sees this evolution affecting virtually every sector.
"That is workflow in every business. It's workflow in SRI, it's workflow in what I do, it's workflow in every single thing. It's workflow in a university, it's workflow in the military, it's workflow in the government." Schmidt
Unlike simplistic automation tools that require extensive human integration, these AI agents would negotiate complex tasks between themselves, making decisions and handling exceptions with minimal human intervention – communicating in natural language rather than specialized code.
Why this matters now
The tech entrepreneur's emphasis on agents rather than models represents a significant shift in perspective from much of the current AI discourse. While large language models have captured public attention, the practical application through autonomous, intercommunicating agents may ultimately prove more transformative for businesses and institutions.
Schmidt, who served as Google's CEO from 2001 to 2011 and continues to invest in AI technologies, has consistently advocated for focusing beyond the immediate capabilities of AI to its long-term implications. His "agentic revolution" concept suggests that while chatbots and text generators dominate headlines, the real transformation lies in how AI systems will increasingly interact with each other to accomplish complex tasks with limited human oversight.
The workflow transformation Schmidt envisions could dramatically alter professional roles across industries, potentially eliminating routine decision-making processes while creating new demands for human oversight of AI agent activities. For organizations preparing for AI transformation, this perspective suggests looking beyond individual AI applications to consider how multiple AI systems might collaborate across departmental and organizational boundaries.
