AI Agents in Action: How Digital Colleagues Are Changing the Way We Work

In this episode of On Record PR, Jennifer Simpson Carr sits down with Leslie Richards and Isabelle Horan to discuss AI agents — what they are, how they differ from other popular AI tools, and why they’re poised to change workflows across industries, including law. AI agents are reshaping what’s possible from acting like digital team members to running creative campaigns and automating administrative tasks. The conversation also covers how professionals can prepare now to stay relevant and valuable in this rapidly evolving landscape.

What’s the difference between AI agents and tools like ChatGPT?

• Izzy explains that while chatbots respond to prompts, AI agents operate autonomously with specific goals, interacting with other agents, software, and the web. They can perceive, reason, make decisions, take action, and learn — functioning like digital colleagues with job descriptions and access to resources.

What real-world applications are emerging?

• Leslie shares examples like a marketing campaign fully executed by an AI agent — from writing copy and creating videos to A/B testing and scheduling posts — with humans providing creative direction and final approvals.
• Agents can also automate billing workflows, case intake, travel booking, and other administrative tasks by integrating with CRMs, email, and practice management tools.

What’s happening in the legal sector specifically?

• High-end tools like Harvey AI are trained on legal databases to draft contracts, conduct legal research, and integrate with platforms like LexisNexis for enterprise-level work.
• Industry-agnostic tools like Smith OS connect with a wide array of software, offering broader, customizable capabilities.

Will AI agents replace human jobs? How should professionals prepare?

• Leslie and Izzy acknowledge that disruption is inevitable but emphasize the continuing need for human oversight, creative direction, and relationship-building.
• Professionals should learn to work with and manage AI agents, adapt to shifting roles, and focus on uniquely human skills — like fostering client relationships and setting strategic goals — that technology can’t replicate.

What’s next?

• The group notes that adoption will accelerate quickly, just as generative AI chatbots did. They plan to revisit the topic in a few months to explore new developments and legal industry applications.

Resources

• Dharmesh Shah, Co-founder and CTO, HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/company/management/dharmesh-shah
• DigiMarCon: https://digimarcon.com/
• HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/
• Harvey AI: https://www.harvey.ai/
• LexisNexis: https://www.lexisnexis.com
• SmythOS: https://smythos.com/