This system involves agents working together to solve tasks in a distributed manner.

Capgemini's chief innovation officer Pascal Brier said companies are already discussing these technologies. He expects applications using multiple autonomous agents to emerge next year.

Capgemini defines AI agents as technology that operates independently, plans, reflects, and executes complex workflows with minimal human oversight. The US is ahead in adopting this technology, while Europe lags.

Capgemini's report with the catchy title "Harnessing the Value of Generative AI," reveals that 82 per cent of surveyed companies plan to integrate AI agents within one to three years, with only seven per cent having no plans.

The survey included over 1,100 companies with $1 billion or more in revenues. Brier categorises AI agents into individual agents and multi-agent technology.

For instance, a marketing AI agent could collaborate with a legal department agent to ensure compliance. Unlike conventional AI, these agents can understand, interpret, adapt, and act independently, potentially replacing human workers for specific tasks.

The first significant AI wave in 2022 focused on understanding prompts and large language models. Now, AI and generative AI are converging, building engines of knowledge and using agents as substitutes or co-pilots.

 Capgemini states that 71 per cent of organisations expect AI agents to facilitate automation, while 64 per cent believe they will relieve workers of repetitive tasks.

The report notes a fourfold increase in generative AI adoption, from six per cent in 2023 to 24 per cent this year. Larger companies are adopting generative AI faster than smaller firms. Ten per cent of firms with $1 billion to $5 billion in revenue are implementing generative AI, compared to 49 per cent of companies with $20 billion or more. Adoption rates vary by industry, with 88 per cent in aerospace and defence and 66 per cent in retail.