Good morning. Autonomous AI agents are poised to transform how enterprises operate. Yet, new research suggests that their potential value is still widely underestimated.
Agentic AI could be the “defining catalyst for AI monetization,” as agents can measurably boost workforce productivity, BofA analysts wrote in a research note to clients on Tuesday.
The analysts developed a framework to estimate how much of the total value of human work (measured by salaries and wages) could shift to AI agents. They started by calculating that global knowledge worker wages across seven major fields—sales, marketing, customer support, finance, human resources, IT, and operations—total $18.6 trillion annually. By 2030, they project AI agents could handle 10% of these workflows, unlocking $1.9 trillion in value. If software vendors capture 8% of this, agentic AI spending could reach $155 billion, according to the findings.
BofA analysts believe this could change as agentic AI matures. Unlike simple chatbots, agents can automate complex, multi-step processes, acting as proactive collaborators rather than reactive tools.
