At SXSW this year, I sat in on a talk called “AI Agents and the Future of Human Collaboration” — and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. Not because it was full of hype or flashy predictions, but because it was a glimpse into where all of this is actually going.
We’ve talked about generative AI a lot over the past year — writing content, answering questions, building things quickly. But this talk reminded me:
The future of AI isn’t just about assistants. It’s about agents.
Agents are the next level. They don’t just give you a quick answer — they think, act, and reason.
They can perform multi-step tasks, react to outcomes, and adjust their actions — all based on your goals.
What That Means in Real Life
Think of AI agents as your custom-programmed digital sidekicks. Kind of like Arduino projects, but on steroids. You give them a job, a set of tools, and a bit of context — and they just go.
Imagine:
- A custom AI chatbot on a large enterprise WordPress site, answering questions like a true brand rep.
- A field-ready mobile AI for oil and gas companies — guiding workers step-by-step through troubleshooting, safety checks, or reporting.
- An intelligent lead filter that takes submitted info, researches the contact, creates a persona, compares it to your ideal customer, and routes the lead (or gently refers them elsewhere).
This isn’t far-off sci-fi. We can build this now.
And I’m already exploring how we can use it inside our agency and projects like Nesta Sites — our AI-powered platform for launching high-quality websites fast.
Don’t Get Left Behind
One stat from the talk surprised me:
Only 16% of U.S. workers are using AI in their jobs.
That number feels even lower in Canada. And it’s not because the tools aren’t there — it’s because most people still haven’t been exposed to what’s possible.
I’ll say this gently, but directly:
The only people AI is going to replace… are the ones who refuse to use it.
Agents aren’t replacing employees — they’re enhancing them.
Not in a sci-fi cyborg kind of way — but in a “let’s help you do more with the same time” kind of way.
As leaders, we need to lean in. Learn what’s out there. Encourage experimentation. Share what we discover. That’s how we stay ahead — together.
What’s Needed Now: Better Ideas, Not Just More Content
One of the most powerful lines from the session was this:
“AI can give you lots of volume. But now we need better ideas.”
That hit me.
In a world where AI is generating more content than ever, original thought matters more.
If you’re a thinker, a builder, a dreamer — this is your moment.
Tools like Bubble.io are letting people bring their ideas to life without writing a single line of code. You can test, build, and iterate faster than ever before.
That is the opportunity.
Where I’m Starting
At YEG Digital, I’m pushing myself — and my team — to start exploring more AI tools in our workflow.
I’ve also gone all-in with my co-founder Zac on Nesta Sites — our AI-driven platform that helps businesses launch stunning websites fast. Zac’s been the mastermind behind integrating all the pieces, and honestly, we couldn’t have built what we’ve built without this new wave of tools.
And this is just the beginning.
Final Thought: Choose 1–5 Things. Then Go.
You don’t need to understand everything about AI agents.
But you do need to start.
Pick a few areas in your business or workflow where AI could help — and just go.
Test something. Break something. Learn something.
Because this isn’t just another tech trend. This is a whole new way of working.
And the sooner we get comfortable collaborating with AI — the more impact we’ll be able to make.
