TLDR: Agentic Artificial Intelligence is rapidly gaining traction in Australia, with a significant 50% increase in usage over the past three months. This advanced form of AI, capable of making decisions and performing autonomous actions, is being embraced by businesses and consumers alike to boost productivity, streamline operations, and foster innovation across various sectors, including software development, financial services, and customer support.
Australia is experiencing a significant surge in the adoption of agentic Artificial Intelligence, a sophisticated form of AI that can make decisions and perform actions autonomously. Recent research from Adobe, titled “From Assistants to Agents: The AI Evolution in Australia,” reveals a remarkable 50% increase in agentic AI usage within the last three months, with 18% of Australians now employing these tools. This rapid uptake is expected to continue, as 42% of Australians anticipate adopting agentic AI within the next year. Millennials are leading this technological shift, with 23% already utilizing agentic AI and a high trust level of 62% in its ability to complete tasks effectively.
This widespread adoption is seen as a crucial step in addressing Australia’s long-standing productivity challenges and persistent tech skills shortages. Sharryn Napier, Vice President for APAC at GitHub, highlights this transformation, stating that “coding agents are shifting from concept to reality, enabling developers and teams to solve problems faster and more intelligently.” Tools like GitHub Copilot have evolved beyond simple code suggestions, now functioning as “an extra teammate” that can offer suggestions, catch errors, draft pull requests, and even propose solutions proactively. Napier emphasizes the profound impact of this next phase in AI-powered coding, calling it “a force multiplier for developers, allowing them to accelerate development cycles and allocate more time to high-value, creative and strategic tasks.”
Agentic AI is not only revolutionizing software development but also driving significant changes across broader business operations. Companies like Commonwealth Bank of Australia, EY, and Carvana are already “capitalising on the impact of agentic AI, achieving productivity leaps and bounds.” Salesforce, a cloud technology provider, demonstrates how AI agents are being integrated into the operational backbone for various applications, from customer verification to enhanced customer service. For instance, Urban Rest, a property management company, saw a “50% increase in productivity for the operations team” and up to a “40% reduction in the number of field service visits anticipated” after implementing an autonomous agent for guest services.
Key applications of agentic AI among Australians include comparing products and services based on individual preferences (63%), finding deals and completing approved purchases (57%), suggesting creative ideas (55%), and managing returns or customer service (54%). The primary factors driving adoption are the ability for users to maintain control and approve actions (44%) and the significant time savings (44%).
Experts believe that agentic AI represents the next frontier in automation. Yelena Galstian, UiPath’s local head of solutions and customer advisory, notes that agentic AI, recognized as one of Gartner’s top 10 trends, allows automation to expand into decision-making tasks. Unlike previous automation technologies, AI agents can reason independently and interact with tools to perform actions without constant human oversight. This shift is poised to empower workers by reducing burnout and enabling them to focus on more complex, high-value tasks, thereby enhancing overall workplace productivity.
As Katrina Troughton, Vice President and Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at Adobe, observes, “The surge in agentic AI adoption indicates that it’s no longer just about getting smart answers; people want AI that can act and make decisions.” This evolving expectation is leading to new AI-assisted pathways for consumers to discover and engage with brands, prompting companies like Adobe to integrate agentic AI capabilities into their software products, such as Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop.
Also Read:
- Generative AI Agents: Reshaping Industries and the Future of Work
- Workplace AI Adoption Surges as Employees Quietly Integrate Tools, Often Without Employer Knowledge
In essence, agentic AI is emerging as a critical enabler for Australia to address its economic challenges, foster innovation, and set new benchmarks for efficiency across industries.
