HR software maker Workday is joining the list of tech companies pushing into the hot niche of AI agents, or using AI to complete tasks autonomously. But in an exclusive interview with Fortune, CEO Carl Eschenbach emphasized that AI agents will be able to take on more than just one specific, step-by-step task like writing software code, fraud detection, or invoice processing. Instead, he foresees AI agents as learning and adding new skills over time, ultimately taking on entire roles in a company.
In effect, Eschenbach says AI agents will become “digital employees” that will “peacefully coexist” with human ones. He dismissed fears that agents would replace human workers, generally speaking, but acknowledged they would make certain roles obsolete.
