Businesses are navigating a complex and often inconsistent journey as they integrate AI into their operations. While the promise of AI agents—autonomous systems that can perform tasks on behalf of humans—has captured the imagination of executives and investors alike, real-world implementation remains fraught with challenges and setbacks. At the heart of the issue is the gap between public hype and internal reality. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been a vocal advocate for AI agents, promoting his company’s “Agentforce” initiative as a transformative leap forward. Yet, behind the scenes, employees report constant struggles to deliver on ambitious promises. One senior employee described the difficulty of distinguishing between what is demonstrated in pitch decks, what appears on roadmaps, and what is actually live in production. “It’s a full-time job just figuring that out,” they said. This disconnect is not unique to Salesforce. Across industries, companies are investing heavily in AI, but progress is uneven. Some teams are making rapid strides, while others are stuck in cycles of experimentation, false starts, and unmet expectations. The pressure to deliver results quickly—especially under public scrutiny—can lead to overpromising and underdelivering. Even in more agile environments, the path is not smooth. Vercel, a developer-focused tech company, used a data-driven approach to build an AI agent that mimicked a top sales performer. The result? A team of one human, with the other nine roles filled by AI agents. While the outcome was efficient, it also highlights the growing tension between human workers and machine automation. Meanwhile, smaller players are also trying to leverage AI to compete. Business Insider’s new “Tiny Teams” series spotlights entrepreneurs like Tim DeSoto, a former Walmart executive, who is using AI to build a shopping app aimed at outmaneuvering larger competitors during the holiday season. These stories show that AI is not just a tool for giants—it’s becoming a critical asset for startups and solopreneurs. Despite the challenges, the momentum continues. Wall Street is betting on a new generation of leaders who will manage AI agents as part of their early career development. JPMorgan executives predict that the next wave of management talent will be defined not by their experience in traditional operations, but by their ability to work alongside intelligent systems. Yet, the road to AI integration is not a straight line. It’s marked by trial, error, and a constant reevaluation of what’s possible. As one expert put it, “It’s all about control. People in leadership positions are feeling like they finally have the upper hand again.” But for many, the real test lies not in the technology itself, but in the ability to align it with business goals, team capabilities, and long-term strategy.