TLDR: David Hsu, CEO of AI company Retool, states that artificial intelligence is designed to replace human labor, a sentiment echoed by the company’s new ‘Agents’ platform. This perspective comes as businesses, including those working with consulting firms like BCG, increasingly seek to leverage large language models for automation and efficiency gains, despite public discussions often focusing on AI ethics and safety.
David Hsu, CEO of Retool, an AI company collaborating with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), has openly stated that artificial intelligence is fundamentally intended to replace human labor. This assertion comes as Retool launches its new ‘Agents’ platform, designed to enable users to build AI agents on top of various large language models (LLMs) available in the market. Hsu noted that while public discourse often centers on AI ethics and safety, the primary question his clients are asking is, ‘How do we get LLMs to actually replace labor?’
Retool’s Agents platform aims to provide a solution by helping users build, test, and manage these AI agents. Hsu acknowledged that many companies and even their customers are hesitant to publicly discuss the topic of labor replacement, yet the underlying drive for automation with LLMs is strong. This aligns with broader industry trends, where leaders like Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have also discussed the future of autonomous agents and ‘AI employees.’
Boston Consulting Group’s recent reports further underscore the transformative potential of AI. A BCG report from July 24, 2025, titled ‘CEOs Aren’t Thinking Big Enough with AI,’ highlights that while many companies use AI for efficiency, the most successful CEOs are reimagining core business functions and creating new, AI-powered offerings. Jessica Apotheker, a Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG, likened AI to an ‘electricity moment,’ suggesting that true value comes from redesigning entire processes, not just automating existing ones.
Another BCG report, ‘AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, but Gaps Remain,’ released on June 26, 2025, indicates that 72% of respondents regularly use AI. However, only a subset of companies are truly capturing AI’s value by redesigning workflows. The report also notes that while AI adoption is strong, particularly in the Global South, concerns about job security persist, with 41% of global respondents worried about their roles disappearing within the next decade. Companies that invest in proper training, provide access to the right tools, and offer strong leadership support are more successful in integrating AI and reshaping workflows, leading to significant time savings and improved decision-making for employees.
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Retool’s new platform and Hsu’s candid remarks reflect a growing industry focus on leveraging AI for significant operational shifts, moving beyond mere productivity enhancements to fundamental labor transformation. The year 2025 has been identified as a pivotal year for AI agents, with various companies launching platforms to facilitate their development and management.
