For the 250th episode, we're looking a bit further forward to explore what enterprises should be thinking about as they look to put agentic capabilities to work. Melissa Incera, Alex Johnston and Sheryl Kingstone return to discuss the challenges and potential with host Eric Hanselman. As AI agents evolve beyond simple chatbots in customer experience and business operations, enterprises have to adapt both their infrastructure and data management capabilities to benefit from agentic potential. Automation is great, but getting to fully autonomous operations requires building more trust than exists today for most. In fact, 451 Research Voice of the Enterprise study results show that those who show a healthy skepticism about agent capabilities are the most successful in achieving their AI project goals.

Agents are making big step forward in establishing continuity in processes by adding memory to AI model interactions. At the same time, concerns about cost are bringing up the need for the same types of visibility and control that's being used with FinOps efforts in cloud. All of this is taking place in an evolving regulatory landscape where the need for a balanced approach between innovation and safety is guiding the best outcomes.

More S&P Global Content:

• Next in Tech podcast: Agentic Customer Experience
• Next in Tech episode 222: FinOps
• Next in Tech | Ep. 205: Agentic AI Impacts
• AI for security: Agentic AI will be a focus for security operations in 2025

For S&P Global Subscribers:

• Agents in the enterprise: Laying the groundwork for automation
• The CX AI Agent Index 2025
• Agents are already driving workplace impact and agentic AI adoption – Highlights from VotE: AI & Machine Learning
• Big Picture 2026 AI Outlook: Unleashing agentic potential

Credits:

• Host/Author: Eric Hanselman
• Guests: Melissa Incera, Alex Johnston, Sheryl Kingstone
• Producer/Editor: Feranmi Adeoshun
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Kyra Smith