The world of artificial intelligence is evolving at breakneck speed, and nowhere is this more conspicuous than in the emergence of AI agents. As organizations grapple with separating genuine innovation from marketing hype, we sat down with Ed Keisling, Chief AI Officer at Progress Software, to cut through the noise and understand what AI agents really mean for businesses today. Ed brings a unique perspective, having taken on his new role in February 2025 at a time when the industry is proclaiming this as “the year of agents.” His insights reveal both the tremendous potential and the current limitations of this transformative technology. As always, time is of the essence.



AI Agents, Beyond the Hype



Preogress Software’s Ed Keisling did a great job debunking the myths surrounding AI Agents and showing what the future holds beyond the hype – photo Progress Software.


The Rise of the Chief AI Officer: A Strategic Imperative



The creation of Chief AI Officer roles across the technology industry signals more than just a trend—it represents a fundamental shift in how businesses view artificial intelligence. As Ed explains, “AI needs to be a strategic pillar of a business to drive innovation and growth. It really reflects the pace at which technology is evolving, and having somebody that is accountable to follow all these latest updates and really look at it through the lens of new risks and opportunities.”







This observation resonates with the broader digital transformation patterns we’ve witnessed over the past decade. Just as Chief Digital Officers emerged to guide organizations through the digital transformation revolution, Chief AI Officers are now stepping up to navigate the AI transformation. The role isn’t merely about implementing technology—it’s about strategic thinking, risk assessment, and identifying genuine business opportunities in a rapidly changing landscape.



AI agents: the promise with tools like Manus is that they would behave like your favourite dog. Go search, Rover…! — photo by antimuseum.com


Defining AI Agents: Beyond the Buzzwords



One of the most persistent challenges in the AI space is the confusion surrounding terminology. AI agents, in particular, have become an overloaded term that means different things to different people. Ed provides valuable clarity by positioning agents on a spectrum of AI capabilities.



“When generative AI came out, it was generally reactive,” Ed notes. “We would go to ChatGPT, provide a prompt, and it would generate a response based on its training patterns. Agents are moving along that spectrum in terms of capabilities—they have the ability to perceive their environment, access to audio, video, documents, and crucially, the ability to reason, plan, and learn from their actions.”



Unfortunately, Rover isn’t always willing to search in the right direction… — photo by antimuseum.com



Traditional automation relies on strict rule-based systems—the digital equivalent of if-then-else logic. Chatbots, while more sophisticated, remain predominantly reactive. AI agents represent a step toward proactive, reasoning systems that can adapt to changing circumstances.




AI agents represent a step toward proactive, reasoning systems that can adapt to changing circumstances




The evolution doesn’t stop there. Ed introduces the concept of “Back to Episodes