Oracle Launches Over 50 AI Agents to Automate Business Processes

Oracle has announced the release of over 50 role-based AI agents within the Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite. These agents are designed to automate business processes, marking a significant shift in how generative AI is applied, moving beyond simple chatbots to become effective work assistants.

AI Agents for Different Enterprise Functions

The Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite is a comprehensive suite of tools that helps enterprises manage various business functions. At Oracle’s CloudWorld 2024 conference in Las Vegas, the company revealed that the new AI agents aim to assist employees and managers by streamlining business processes.

In Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management, these agents help with tasks like shift scheduling, hiring assistance, and managing employee benefits. For Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain, the agents provide contextualized insights for handling order requests and make maintenance and repair recommendations. In Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience, AI agents assist with tasks like automating contract workflows and aiding sales communications. Oracle did not say when these AI Agents would be available.

The Evolution of AI Agents

This introduction of AI agents represents the next step in the growth of generative AI, which is expanding beyond chatbot use cases into automating routine tasks and providing personalized insights. Oracle's AI agents are designed to help users complete work more efficiently, without the need for human intervention.

Sid Nag, a research analyst at Gartner, explains, "These AI agents are engineered to automate routine tasks and provide personalized insights and recommendations." The development of these agents highlights how generative AI is transitioning from ideation to real-world implementation.

Other Vendors Following Suit

Oracle isn't the only tech giant introducing AI agents into its business applications. On September 10, ServiceNow announced plans to integrate agentic workflows into its platform, with AI agents designed for customer service and IT management becoming available by November 2024. ServiceNow's AI Agents are designed to autonomously identify and resolve issues, while still operating under the guidance of human oversight to ensure accuracy and compliance.

ServiceNow also introduced the Now Assist Skill Kit, which allows enterprises to create custom generative AI skills tailored to their specific business needs.

The Future of AI Agents

Mark Beccue, an analyst at TechTarget's Enterprise Strategy Group, believes that AI agents could evolve into multitasking assistants capable of navigating multiple applications seamlessly, without the need of going into and out of each application. This could potentially lead to a new user interface where AI agents manage tasks across various platforms, simplifying user interactions.

However, questions remain about how these agents will handle industry-specific regulations, especially in heavily regulated sectors like finance.

Additional AI Features in Oracle Cloud

Beyond the AI agents, Oracle also introduced new AI capabilities in other applications. In Oracle Cloud ERP, AI-driven predictive cash forecasting, narrative reporting, and automated transaction recording were introduced. In Oracle Cloud CX, new assisted authoring tools help sales teams with AI-generated responses, and Oracle CX Unity detects engagement signals based on role and topic.

Impact of AI Agents on Business Efficiency and Productivity

This development means businesses can leverage AI to handle routine and complex tasks more efficiently, freeing up employees to focus on higher-value work. By combining autonomous problem-solving with human oversight, these AI agents enhance productivity while maintaining the necessary control and compliance, especially in regulated industries. This shift toward AI-driven automation can lead to faster decision-making, reduced operational costs, and a more streamlined workflow across various business functions.