AI Agents: Why Your Newest Sales & Marketing Teammates Aren’t Human

AI agents aren’t some far-off idea anymore. They’re here, and they’re already reshaping how marketing and sales teams operate. 

As I chatted with Sam Mallikarjunan from Agent.ai on The ChangeOver Podcast, here’s one theme that stood out: 

AI agents have huge potential to handle the tasks that feel like drudgery, so we humans can focus on the bigger, more strategic stuff.

And that has the potential to fundamentally change the way businesses work. Think about it: if you could delegate all the tedious stuff to an automated assistant, how much bandwidth could your brain gain?

For those of us who thrive on strategic thinking and the intersection of tech and creativity, this shift is more than merely interesting. In this episode summary I'll share what resonates most from my perspective. Take my word for it, or watch for yourself:

Check out episode 18 of The ChangeOver now, then subscribe on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Weidert.com, or your favorite podcast app.

How AI agents go beyond smart assistants

We’ve actually had AI tools for a while — think predictive analytics and automation scripts — but AI agents go further.

Generative AI can suggest actions; AI agents act on your behalf.

AI agents don’t sit around waiting for commands. They analyze, anticipate, and act based on real-time data. They’re proactive, not reactive. 

Thanks to API integrations, they’re already embedded in business workflows across industries, connecting multiple applications to complete tasks on their own, without needing human intervention. 

Klarna’s one example. Its AI agent handles 95% of customer inquiries without human input. That’s no small efficiency tweak. It’s a new approach to customer service.

AI agents aren’t replacing humans; they’re digital partners

Is the idea that AI will take jobs away overblown? The pace of AI innovation makes the future hard to predict, but today, the smartest businesses aren’t using AI to cut headcount. They’re using it to free up their teams for high-value work:

• Marketing: AI agents can create personalized content at scale, but human creativity is still what makes messaging engaging and relatable
• Sales: AI can prioritize and qualify leads, but people close deals and build relationships
• Leadership: Companies that use AI to handle the repetitive work while doubling down on human expertise will be the ones that thrive

RELATED: AI in Content Creation: Lessons from the Trenches

AI Adoption Depends On Strategy, Not Just Enthusiasm

One of my biggest takeaways from the conversation was that AI adoption must be intentional. Tossing AI into existing workflows without a plan is like putting a self-driving car on the road without rules. Jumping in without guardrails can create inefficiencies, errors, and even reputational risks.

For marketing and sales teams, that means identifying specific, high-impact use cases where AI can provide immediate value. If you need a little help envisioning what kinds of tasks agents could do for you, definitely make a beeline for Agent.ai, browse agents, and take a few for a spin. 

Instead of trying to automate everything at once, it makes more sense to test AI in areas like:

• Automated customer responses that feel personalized and helpful (AI-powered customer service agents)
• Meeting scheduling and prep
• Lead scoring and outreach recommendations powered by real-time engagement data

By taking a measured approach, companies can ensure AI agents serve as accelerators, not obstacles. A few key tips to keep in mind:

1. Start small and focused. AI agents shine in areas like lead qualification, customer follow-ups, and content personalization.
2. Integrate AI seamlessly with APIs. One way AI agents can add strategic value is in connecting across functional roles. Agents don’t operate in silos. They use APIs to connect with CRM platforms, ad managers, analytics tools, and more to provide real-time insights and execute workflows.
3. Refine as you go. AI isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it tool. Like any new team member, it needs training, feedback, and optimization to perform at its best.

If You’re Not Thinking About AI, You’re Already Behind

This conversation’s more than a glimpse into the future. It’s also a wake-up call. AI agents aren’t something that might change our work someday. They’re already here, and the companies that figure out how to use them effectively will have a massive advantage.

So, my question to fellow marketers and sales professionals is this: How can we use AI to do our best, most impactful work in the day-to-day? Instead of fearing AI, we should be leaning into it, testing its capabilities, and finding ways to make it a valuable teammate.

If you haven’t listened to the full conversation yet, I highly recommend checking it out. And if you’re ready to dive deeper into how AI is shaping the future of marketing and sales, join us at Experience Inbound 2025 — where Sam Mallikarjunan will be delivering a keynote packed with insights and strategies for sales and marketing professionals on leveraging AI agents to work better.