Episode 90

AI Agents: The Truth Behind the Hype

Published on: 15th April, 2025

Nicolas de Bellefonds, BCG’s global AI leader, unpacks the myths, challenges, and real potential of AI agents. They can transform how work gets done if companies stop chasing shortcuts, rethink outdated processes, and prepare for the costs and complexity that come with real change. 

Learn More: 

Nicolas de Bellefonds: https://on.bcg.com/4lr0Dkh 

BCG’s Latest Thinking on AI: https://on.bcg.com/3Y1NHaq 

The CEO’s Workout for Peak AI Performance: https://on.bcg.com/44opFtV 

From Potential to Profit: Closing the AI Impact Gap: https://on.bcg.com/3XZBGSL 

Chapters:

[0:25] Nico’s So What

[1:16] What Are Agents?

[3:57] What Problems Do Agents Solve?

[5:56] How Do Agents Affect Processes?

[7:50] What Should Leaders Focus On?

[9:06] How Do You Start Improving Data and Infrastructure?

[10:24] What Are the Biggest Challenges?

[13:48] What Is Next?

[14:49] How Close Are We to AGI?

[15:43] What Are the Risks?

[17:13] Now What?



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About the Podcast

The So What from BCG
This podcast from Boston Consulting Group looks around the corner of today’s big business and social issues. The goal–the so what–is to make sense of today and prepare busy leaders and executives for the day after tomorrow.
Award-winning British journalist Georgie Frost interviews the leading thinkers and doers at BCG on the trends, developments, and ideas that will shape and disrupt the future. This is not your typical business strategy podcast.

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Nick Howard