Good morning. AI brokers are promoted as the way forward for work, however whereas staff adapt to the concept, most aren’t comfy reporting to a digital boss.
Greater than 80% of organizations are increasing their use of AI brokers, in keeping with a brand new report by Fortune 500 firm Workday (a CFO Day by day sponsor). Though 75% of employees are comfy collaborating with AI brokers, solely 30% are comfy being managed by one. The analysis finds that staff are joyful to make use of AI brokers as instruments, however don’t view them as determination makers to whom they need to reply.
Almost half (48%) of respondents are involved that AI brokers will enhance strain on staff to work quicker. The findings are based mostly on a survey of two,950 full-time determination makers and software program implementation leaders throughout North America, APAC, and EMEA.
Belief seems to be the elephant within the room. Greater than 25% of respondents imagine AI brokers are overhyped.
“Constructing belief means being intentional in how AI is used and retaining folks on the middle of each determination,” in keeping with Kathy Pham, vice chairman of AI at Workday.
The analysis discovered that belief in brokers rises with better use: solely 36% of these simply exploring AI brokers belief their organizations to make use of them responsibly, in contrast with 95% amongst these additional alongside the adoption curve.
Workday’s report highlights the significance of retaining human accountability on the middle of AI decision-making. On the Fortune Brainstorm AI Singapore convention final month, Sapna Chadha, VP for Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier at Google, suggested that agentic platforms should clearly talk actions and request person approval at key determination factors.
“You wouldn’t wish to have a system that may do that absolutely with out a human within the loop,” Chadha mentioned.
Workday’s analysis additionally revealed that, with the business going through a scarcity of CPAs and finance professionals, 76% of finance employees imagine AI brokers will assist fill the hole, and solely 12% are anxious about job loss. High makes use of for AI brokers in finance embody forecasting and budgeting (32%), monetary reporting (32%), and fraud detection (30%). Gen Z is particularly bullish—70% are all for working for firms that spend money on AI brokers.
The report recommends the next for leaders: refine efficiency by means of human ingenuity, prioritize instruments and coaching, and design roles that unlock function—not simply productiveness.
Will staff ever be comfy calling an AI agent their boss? For my part, on the subject of AI, by no means say by no means.
Have a superb weekend.
Sheryl Estrada
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com
Leaderboard
Fortune 500 Energy Strikes
Aunoy Banerjee was appointed EVP and CFO of Residents Monetary Group, Inc. (No. 341), efficient Oct. 24. As beforehand introduced, present CFO John Woods will depart the financial institution on Aug. 15. Chris Emerson, EVP and head of company planning and enterprise finance, will function CFO in the course of the interim interval. Banerjee joins Residents from Barclays, the place he at present serves as CFO of Barclays Financial institution PLC. Earlier than Barclays, Banerjee served in finance and transformation roles at State Avenue over eight years, most not too long ago as head of investments and third-party administration and chair of State Avenue India. He additionally served as chief transformation officer. Banerjee beforehand spent 11 years at Citi in a number of roles, together with enterprise unit CFO for Capital Markets and Securities Providers.
Each Friday morning, the weekly Fortune 500 Energy Strikes column tracks Fortune 500 firm C-suite shifts—see the newest version.
Extra notable strikes this week:
Jonathan Hugh was appointed CFO of ALT5 Sigma Company (Nasdaq: ALTS), a fintech and digital asset treasury firm. Hugh brings over 25 years of expertise. He beforehand served as CFO of digital asset companies GSR Worldwide Ltd, a world market maker, and Zodia Custody Ltd, a regulated institutional custodian.
Matt Puckett was appointed CFO of Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE: IBTA), a digital promotions community, efficient Aug. 25. Most not too long ago, Puckett served as CFO of VF Company, a world chief in branded way of life attire and footwear. Over his 23-year tenure at VF, he held a number of working CFO roles, together with a four-year worldwide project in Switzerland overseeing finance throughout Europe and Asia. Puckett will exchange Valarie Sheppard, who has served as Ibotta’s interim CFO since March 14.
Julie A. Beck was appointed SVP, CFO, and treasurer of MSA Security Integrated (NYSE: MSA), a supplier of superior security merchandise, efficient Aug. 18. Beck most not too long ago served as SVP and CFO for Terex Corp., a world industrial tools producer. Earlier than that, she served as SVP and CFO for Nova Chemical compounds, Inc., a producer of petrochemicals. Beck has additionally served as international VP of provide chain, operational excellence and high quality for Pleasure World, Inc.
Large Deal
U.S. employers mission a median well being care price enhance of 10% for 2026, in keeping with a report launched by the Worldwide Basis of Worker Profit Plans.
Employers cited 4 fundamental components contributing to the anticipated rise in medical plan prices for 2026: catastrophic claims (up from 20% final 12 months); specialty and expensive pharmaceuticals (up from 20% final 12 months); utilization because of continual well being situations (down from 16% final 12 months); and medical supplier prices (down from 18% final 12 months).
“Employers have indicated that cost-sharing, plan design, and buying/supplier initiatives would be the most impactful strategies to handle prices,” mentioned Julie Stich, vice chairman of content material on the Worldwide Basis, in a press release.
Going deeper
Listed here are 4 Fortune weekend reads:
“Amazon has dreamed of cracking Walmart’s lock on groceries for many years, with restricted success. An enormous same-day buying growth might change that” by Jason Del Rey
“Tapestry takes an $855 million write-down on Kate Spade—and gives a reminder of how dangerous M&A is within the style world” by Phil Wahba
“Ikea’s incoming CEO began his profession as a retailer supervisor—he remembers working at 5 a.m. within the loading space and consuming hotdogs with the founder” by Emma Burleigh
Overheard
“We simply discovered a quantity that we thought was sufficient cash—to have the ability to purchase a home and issues like that—after which we doubled it, and we gave the remainder away.”
—Brian O’Kelley informed Fortune in an interview. O’Kelley banked lower than $100 million after promoting his $1.6 billion startup AppNexus to AT&T—and gave the remainder to charity.
