Your TeenAGENTer

Why AI Agents Are Like Teenagers and What That Means for Your Business

The AI world is buzzing about “agents”—autonomous digital helpers that promise to operate across systems, orchestrate complex tasks, and deliver business outcomes with minimal supervision. Many agent demos showcase impressive capabilities, with AI agents navigating websites, filling out forms, processing documents, and handling tasks. While these demonstrations highlight what’s possible, they also operate in controlled environments with well-defined instructions.

AI agents today are much like teenagers—full of potential, capable of remarkable feats under guidance, but far from independent. They require clear direction, constant supervision, and structured environments before they can function reliably in business settings. Just as parents wouldn’t trust their teenager to run the household unsupervised, organizations shouldn’t assume AI agents can autonomously handle business processes without careful oversight.

The Illusion of AI Autonomy

Have you seen demos of AI agents navigating websites or processing forms effortlessly? The reality? They’re not autonomous—they’re coded to shine in controlled setups. As Chris Kraus puts it, “People don’t realize a person is helping at every step.” Vendors often promise AI that “just works,” but as John Michelsen bluntly counters, “Let’s just start with no.” Like teenagers declaring “I’ll figure it out” without a plan, these agents lack the judgment to handle customer nuances, compliance rules, or your quirky legacy CRM without explicit instructions. Industry observers note that many AI deployments falter without clear workflows—a risk mid-market firms can’t afford. They’re powerful tools, not mind-readers. Treat them as you would a teen on their first job—train them, set firm rules, and don’t let them sign checks unsupervised.

AI’s Role in Business Today

If AI agents are not truly autonomous (yet), what role do they play in business? They are helpful and more sophisticated than simple automation but incapable of independent decision-making. Businesses should not expect AI agents to replace human expertise but instead refine their role as highly capable assistants. A well-structured AI agent should:

• Understand and orchestrate business processes. AI must go beyond individual task execution, recognizing the full sequence of actions required to complete entire workflows.
• Recognize context and adjust accordingly. AI should distinguish between similar requests requiring different handling rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
• Integrate with enterprise systems. AI must connect in real-time with CRM, ERP, and other business applications while adhering to security and governance policies.
• Operate at an appropriate level of autonomy. AI should automate routine tasks but escalate exceptions and complex decisions to human oversight.
• Improve through learning and feedback. AI must evolve based on real-world interactions, monitoring errors, and refining workflows over time.
• Follow security and governance requirements. Enterprises operate within strict regulatory frameworks, and AI must comply with GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 standards.

Why AI Agents Need a Proper Platform

Teenagers want independence but thrive in structured environments. Similarly, AI agents need a well-defined platform to operate effectively. A patchwork of disconnected agents leads to inefficiencies—like raising multiple teenagers, each setting their own rules. A robust AI agent platform should include:

Centralized Orchestration

A structured agentic platform ensures all agents work together cohesively rather than in silos. Without centralized orchestration, different agents may perform tasks in an uncoordinated manner, leading to inefficiencies and errors. For example, in a customer support scenario, one agent retrieving customer details while another processes a refund must be synchronized to avoid miscommunication.

Shared Knowledge and Business Context

For AI agents to make informed decisions, they must have access to shared business knowledge. Many implementations fail or will fail because individual agents operate in isolation, lacking awareness of previous interactions, customer history, or company policies. A well-integrated platform ensures agents interoperate, allowing them to understand customer history, preferences, and relevant business rules.

Unified Security and Governance

Security is critical in enterprise AI deployments. AI agents can introduce risks such as data breaches, non-compliance, and unauthorized access without proper measures. Agents must enforce access controls, data encryption, and compliance frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2. A platform approach can improve your security if implemented correctly.

Rapid Change Management

An agentic platform must enable fast change management as business rules and technology evolve. The platform should make building agents and modifying agents a breeze by allowing you to update automation logic and rules in minutes—not months! You can’t wait for IT or deal with long project cycles.

The Path to Mature AI Agents

Teenagers don’t become responsible adults overnight. They need guidance, experience, and time. AI agents follow a similar path, progressing through:

• Foundation Building – Businesses must map workflows, establish governance, and define integration points.
• Supervised Automation – AI should be introduced in controlled environments with human oversight to build trust.
• Progressive Autonomy – AI capabilities should expand incrementally, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Continuous Learning – AI must evolve by incorporating feedback, retraining models, and refining workflows.

Your Next Move: A Quick-Start Checklist

Ready to put AI agents to work? Here’s how to start smart and avoid pitfalls:

• Pick a Process: Start small—e.g., knowledge management, customer service, employee assistance.
• Set a Metric: Aim for 20% time savings in 90 days, etc.
• Map the Process: Define steps and rules first—AI won’t guess.
• Monitor Outputs: Evaluate automation and implement a second agentic workflow.

This gives you a high-level plan to turn hype into results. It’s best to start with a controlled project that is quickly implemented to accelerate learning and provide a path to scale across your organization.

Raising AI Agents Into Responsible Business Partners

AI agents are transforming the way businesses operate, streamlining workflows, managing exceptions, and orchestrating complex processes with speed and precision. Organizations that embrace AI as a collaborative partner—not just a tool—will gain a competitive edge, driving efficiency, compliance, and innovation.

John envisions a future where AI acts as a central intelligence, orchestrating business outcomes just like Star Trek. “The real mission is that there is a singular AI that orchestrates outcomes and all of us interact with that system instead of trying to sort out all of the thousands of systems that actually it takes to run a ship.”

As AI agents continue to advance, their role in business will only grow. The key is to build them on a foundation of integration, governance, and adaptability—allowing businesses to scale and evolve without friction. The future belongs to companies that don’t just use AI but harness it to drive meaningful transformation.

Krista builds AI that works. Our agents integrate deeply, follow business rules, and enhance decision-making. If you’re ready to streamline operations with AI that delivers real value, connect with us today.