AI agents are emerging as digital colleagues in the workplace, going beyond simple tools. In 2026, major Big Tech companies are releasing AI agent solutions that autonomously perform tasks, fundamentally changing the office landscape. Now, AI is less like software waiting for commands and more like a colleague that makes its own judgments and acts independently.
According to Google Cloud’s 2026 AI Agent Trends Report, over 65% of companies plan to integrate AI agents into their work processes this year. While chatbots in the past responded according to predetermined scenarios, today’s AI agents understand context and autonomously handle multi-step tasks. They perform repetitive tasks such as email sorting, meeting scheduling, and report drafting without human intervention. Microsoft News cited ‘the spread of agentic AI in the workplace’ as one of the top 7 AI trends in 2026. In particular, Microsoft is evolving Copilot into an agent platform, presenting a structure where multiple AI agents collaborate per employee. Google is also significantly enhancing agent capabilities in Workspace. InfoWorld describes this as ‘the year of the multi-agent system.’ This means that the method of multiple agents communicating with each other and dividing complex projects is becoming a reality.
Of course, there are concerns. The debate over job displacement continues, and there is a possibility that the agent’s autonomous judgment may cause errors. However, based on current trends, AI agents are evolving in a direction that liberates people from repetitive tasks rather than replacing them. 2026 is likely to be recorded as the first year in which AI agents and humans truly collaborate. In line with this trend, it has become important for both organizations and individuals to acquire agent utilization capabilities.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between an AI agent and a traditional chatbot?
A: Chatbots respond according to predetermined rules, but AI agents understand context and autonomously perform multi-step tasks. The key difference is the ability to judge and execute.
Q: Do AI agents take away jobs from office workers?
A: So far, their role is largely to handle repetitive and simple tasks. This allows people to focus on creative judgment and strategic decision-making.
Q: Can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also adopt AI agents?
A: Yes, it is possible. Google, Microsoft, and others are providing cloud-based agent services, making it possible to adopt them without large-scale infrastructure.