AI agents aren’t just assistants — they’re becoming digital workers.
Before I start with AI agents and the future of work. What I can finally say is …. My New Book Is Here
‘How to Survive and Thrive in 2025’
It’s done. After months of work, I’m excited to share that my new book, How to Survive and Thrive in 2025, is finished! Launching on January 29th, this book is a guide for leaders navigating the AI-driven future of work.
With 268 pages, 25 chapters, 20 expert contributors, 5 distinct parts, 5 podcast discussions, and even an AI helper, this book distills a decade of experience in digital transformation and leadership into a practical survival guide.
It’s been a mammoth task — but one worth doing. AI is moving fast, and leaders who fail to adapt will be left behind. In fact, everyone will. So…
My book is designed to help you stay ahead, thrive, and leverage AI to your advantage. It will be available for £29.99 from January 29th, and I’ll share the first chapter below so you can get a taste of what’s inside.
Now, onto this week’s AI revolution…
AI Agents Are Not Coming — They’re Already Here
2025 is shaping up to be the year AI agents go mainstream, redefining the way businesses operate. In just one week, we’ve seen:
- OpenAI’s Operator — an AI agent that interacts with software like a human, automating workflows. (See above)
- Perplexity Assistant — an AI-powered researcher that browses the web, gathers information, and executes tasks.
- DeepSeek-R1 — a powerful open-source AI model challenging OpenAI with lower costs and competitive reasoning abilities.
- Anthropic’s Claude Citations — an AI tool that ensures responses are backed by verifiable sources, making AI more trustworthy.
Each of these breakthroughs alone would be big news. Together, they mark a turning point in how AI integrates into our professional lives.
The Future of Work: AI as Your Digital Workforce
For years, AI has been used to enhance productivity — but now it’s moving beyond assistance to full execution. Businesses are no longer just using AI as a tool; they’re deploying AI as a workforce.
1. AI Agents Will Handle the Repetitive, Humans Will Focus on Strategy
Think about all the low-value tasks that clog up a workday:
Sorting emails
Scheduling meetings
Data entry and admin work
Searching for research and insights
With AI agents, these tasks will disappear from human to-do lists. That means business leaders and employees can focus on creativity, decision-making, and strategic growth.
2. AI-Powered Personal Assistants for Every Professional
Before AI, only CEOs and executives had human assistants. Now, everyone can have one. AI agents will:
Organize your schedule
Summarize reports before meetings
Automate follow-ups and workflows
Provide instant business insights
This levels the playing field — solo entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations will all have access to executive-level efficiency.
3. Open-Source AI Will Democratize Access
DeepSeek-R1’s MIT-licensed open-source model is a wake-up call. Until now, AI power was concentrated in the hands of a few companies. But as cheaper, open alternatives emerge, AI’s capabilities will become:
More accessible
More affordable
More customizable for businesses
Companies won’t have to rely on expensive API calls from OpenAI or Google. They’ll be able to run their own AI models, tailored to their needs.
Why WE ALL Need to Pay Attention Now
If you’re a business leader, executive, or entrepreneur, this AI shift is not something you can ignore. It’s not just about staying competitive — it’s about staying relevant.
1. AI Will Create New Jobs, Not Just Replace Them
There’s a lot of fear around AI replacing jobs. But history tells us new technologies create new roles. Expect demand for:
AI Workflow Designers — people who optimize AI-driven processes.
AI Auditors — ensuring AI operates fairly and accurately.
Human-AI Collaboration Specialists — guiding teams on how to work with AI effectively.
Smart business leaders will invest in upskilling their teams, not eliminating them.
2. AI Decision-Making Will Be More Trustworthy
One of the biggest challenges with AI has been trust. But with tools like Claude Citations, AI-generated content can be fact-checked, verified, and cited — reducing misinformation.
This will make AI:
More reliable for research
More defensible in business decisions
More valuable for high-stakes industries like finance, healthcare, and law
3. The Cost of AI-Driven Work Will Drop — Fast
DeepSeek-R1 charges $0.55 per million tokens, while OpenAI charges $15 for the same. That’s a massive drop in costs — and this trend will continue.
This means:
AI-powered automation will be affordable for all businesses, not just enterprise giants.
Companies that adopt AI early will gain a cost and efficiency advantage.
Businesses that ignore AI risk being outpaced by competitors leveraging automation.
AI in Your Business: What’s Your Next Move?
The future of work is not AI-assisted — it’s AI-executed.
The smartest business leaders are already asking:
How do I integrate AI into my business today?
What AI tools will give me the biggest ROI?
How do I train my team to work with AI effectively?
That’s where my AI consultancy work comes in.
I help businesses navigate this AI transformation — turning disruption into opportunity.
Whether you need:
A keynote speaker to inspire your team about the future of AI
Workshops to upskill your workforce for AI-powered workflows
AI strategy consulting to implement AI-driven efficiency in your business
Get in touch at www.dansodergren.com to future-proof your business.
And Finally… YES… I am saying it again.
My Book Is Out January 29th!
My newsletter is just a snapshot of the AI revolution unfolding before us. If you want a deeper dive into how AI is transforming leadership, business strategy, and the future of work, then you need to read my book:
How to Survive and Thrive in 2025
Launch Date: January 29th
Price: £29.99
Includes: 268 pages, 25 chapters, 20 contributors, 5 parts, 5 podcast discussions, and even an AI assistant.
I’ll be linking to the first chapter below so you can get a taste of what’s inside. And you can even GET IT FOR FREE — so sign up to the waiting list here.
Thanks to everyone who contributed — it’s been a mammoth task, but it’s finally here! Now, it’s time to send digital copies to all contributors as a thank you.
