The Age of AI Agents

AI is moving from a system that answers questions to a system that can act. As AI agents enter workflows, customer journeys, operating models and decision processes, leaders face a different order of question. It is no longer only about productivity or adoption. It is about accountability, oversight, trust, capability and control.

The Age of AI Agents helps boards and executive teams understand what changes when intelligent systems move from advice to action. The keynote translates agentic AI into leadership language, explaining what senior decision-makers must understand without becoming technical specialists.

Dr Kate Barker explores the decisions leaders need to make now: what AI agents should be allowed to do, where human accountability must remain explicit, how work will be redesigned, what belongs in executive reporting and how organisations should prepare for scrutiny from regulators, employees, customers and markets.

This keynote is designed for boards, C-suites, financial services, government, regulated industries and technology-led organisations preparing for the next phase of AI adoption. It gives leaders a clear framework for thinking about action, authority and accountability as AI systems become more autonomous.