A surge of autonomous artificial intelligence agents capable of performing tasks ranging from coding to tax guidance is disrupting the technology sector and rattling financial markets as investors rush to identify winners and avoid losses.
The shift marks a departure from earlier expectations that tools like ChatGPT would primarily generate text responses. Developers of advanced AI models are now focusing on “agentic” capabilities - software assistants that can independently carry out complex assignments, such as building applications, based on simple instructions.
Futurum chief strategist Shay Boloor described the moment as a major turning point, predicting that millions of AI agents will soon handle tasks traditionally performed by humans. He characterized the transformation as unprecedented in scale and said markets are reacting to uncertainty about its long-term impact.
Recent rapid releases of increasingly advanced AI systems, including new models from OpenAI and Anthropic, have accelerated the shift. The launch of the autonomous AI agent OpenClaw in November - likened by some to the fictional assistant from the Iron Man films - further intensified industry momentum. OpenAI later acquired the creator of OpenClaw, signalling deeper ambitions in autonomous AI development.
Investors have reacted swiftly, viewing AI agents as a potential threat to enterprise software companies. Shares of Monday.com, Salesforce, and Thomson Reuters fell sharply, in some cases dropping more than 30 percent within days.
Jason Schloetzer, a management professor at Georgetown University, said business leaders are already reconsidering their reliance on consultants as AI tools become more capable. Meanwhile, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives argued that fears of AI replacing enterprise software firms may be exaggerated.
Competition among major AI developers continues to intensify. Anthropic’s Claude faces growing rivalry from OpenAI, Gemini developed by Google, and Grok from xAI. Despite massive spending on AI infrastructure, some analysts believe the greater risk lies in failing to invest enough in the technology.
Schloetzer noted that the broader economic impact of AI may take years to fully emerge, similar to how the internet gradually enabled entirely new industries, such as Netflix.
Concerns about AI’s impact are spreading beyond the technology sector. Entrepreneur Matt Shumer recently predicted that AI could reshape professions including law, finance, consulting, and medicine. However, critics such as technology consultant Jeffrey Funk have dismissed such warnings as fear-driven exaggeration.
Analysts suggest markets may soon stabilize as businesses and investors gain a clearer understanding of AI’s real-world impact.
