For years, the challenge was collecting data. Then, it was about understanding it. Today, the real challenge is acting on it—before it’s too late. That’s where AI agents come in: systems that don’t just observe, but also decide and act. Fast. In context.

These agents are already present in many industrial organizations as part of the application of Artificial Intelligence in Industry 5.0. Not with big promises, but with concrete actions: automatic adjustments, predictive maintenance, decisions executed without going through five rounds of approval.

An artificial intelligence agent is a system that perceives its environment—data, events, conditions—reasons about it, and acts autonomously to achieve a goal. Unlike an assistant that waits for instructions, an agent takes initiative within clearly defined boundaries.

Think of it as a digital operator that not only detects anomalies, but also reviews past incidents, evaluates the impact, checks technical availability, and schedules the right intervention.

Platforms like WonderBI bring this logic into real industrial environments: they connect live operational data, apply business rules or predictive models, and trigger responses that used to require manual input.

There are different types of agents, depending on their complexity:

• Reactive: respond to predefined events, like a machine fault.
• Deliberative: weigh different options before acting.
• Collaborative: work alongside other systems or people.
• Cognitive: learn, adapt, and generalize from new patterns.

The point isn’t whether they think like us—it’s that they act without delay.

AI agents are already active in areas like energy management, planning, quality control, and maintenance. They don’t just report what’s happening—they make decisions that used to require human attention and carry them out in seconds.

This doesn’t eliminate human work. It shifts it to where it truly adds value. Deep analysis, judgment under uncertainty, and the ability to interpret what data can’t show—those remain uniquely human strengths.

That’s why we talk about new roles, not fewer. Because the work isn’t going away—it’s being reorganized. And when done right, that means greater efficiency without losing human intelligence.

When we talk about agents—systems that observe, decide, and act—it’s natural to wonder what role is left for us. But the key isn’t to compete with them. It’s to understand them. To make informed choices about what to delegate—and how far.

Knowing how these systems work isn’t about giving up space. It’s about making better decisions, with more control and broader perspective. Because while they execute with precision, we’re still the ones who interpret uncertainty, take risks, and shape long-term strategy.

In short, we keep doing what only humans can do.

If your organization already works with industrial data, the real value lies in automating decisions where possible—and reserving human judgment for where it truly matters. AI agents make that possible: efficiency without losing control.

At WonderBits, we develop solutions like WonderBI, which connect real-time operational data and enable the deployment of autonomous agents that act based on business logic. If you’re exploring this kind of integration, we can help you assess specific use cases and build a tailored system.

Get in touch with us.

**This article has also been adapted as IA en Foco Industrial Focus to bring it closer to our professional community.