Mack Grissom

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Mack Grissom
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AI Agents: The Future of Work Is Already Here

·2 min read
AIAgentsFuture of Work

The conversation around AI has shifted fast. A year ago people were asking "will AI replace my job?" Now the question is "how do I work alongside AI agents?" And honestly, most people weren't ready for how quickly that switch happened.

What Are AI Agents?

Simple chatbots answer questions. Copilots help you while you work. Agents are different. They plan, execute multi-step tasks, use tools, and iterate on their own output. The difference is like asking someone a question versus handing them an entire project and saying "figure it out."

Tools like Claude, Devin, and custom agent frameworks are already handling tasks that used to take developers hours. Debugging codebases, deploying features with tests, writing documentation. Real work, not demos.

How I Use AI Agents in Client Work

In my consulting practice, agents have become force multipliers:

  • Code generation and review: Agents write initial implementations while I focus on architecture decisions
  • Data analysis: Agents process and visualize client data faster than any manual workflow I've ever used
  • Content automation: Agents draft documentation, API specs, and marketing copy from technical briefs
  • Testing: Agents generate comprehensive test suites that catch edge cases I'd miss on my own

The New Developer Skillset

The developers doing well right now aren't the ones who memorize syntax. They're the ones who can effectively direct AI agents. The skills that actually matter:

  1. Prompt engineering: Knowing how to communicate intent clearly to AI systems
  2. System design: Understanding architecture well enough to validate what agents produce
  3. Quality judgment: Knowing when AI output is good enough versus when it needs a human touch
  4. Tool selection: Picking the right AI tool for the right task

Where This Is Going

AI agents aren't replacing developers. They're creating a new tier of incredibly productive professionals who leverage AI to deliver at a pace that wasn't possible before. The question for everyone right now is how fast you can integrate them into your workflow.