The McKinsey Podcast Which tech trends are rising to the top of the business agenda?
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Sep 11, 2025 
Sven Smit, a Senior Partner at McKinsey specializing in tech trends, and Roger Roberts, also a Senior Partner focusing on semiconductors and digital trust, dive into the forefront of technology affecting business today. They discuss the rise of agentic AI, highlighting its potential in e-commerce and collaboration. The duo also explores the increasing role of robotics in various sectors and the urgent need for energy transition technologies. They emphasize the importance of developing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of the evolving semiconductor industry.
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Agentic AI Is Autonomous Work
- Agentic AI extends generative models by taking autonomous actions across multi-step tasks.
- Companies can combine predictive, ML, generative, and agentic capabilities to redesign workflows and unlock value.
Pilot Agents On Repeatable Tasks
- Reimagine processes by assigning agents to discrete steps like research, loan processing, or call-center tasks.
- Pilot agents on high-value, repeatable tasks to capture efficiency and conversion gains quickly.
Onboard Agents Like Employees
- Treat agents like workforce members: onboard, train, give feedback, and define norms and ways of working.
- Invest in human capital processes alongside technical deployment to get real value from digital co-workers.