Why your coworker is suddenly obsessed with their little AI minions
White-collar professionals are increasingly creating and managing teams of specialized AI agents to handle complex workflows and improve productivity. While these tools offer significant time savings, experts note a tendency for users to exaggerate the autonomy and sophistication of these digital assistants.
Why it matters
This trend reflects the evolving integration of AI into professional environments and the shifting definition of 'management' in the digital age.
Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI As AI threatens to upend white-collar work , some professionals are attempting to flip the script. Instead of being outboxed by the bots, they're building their own — and bragging about how many AI agents they manage. Mason Scurry says his AI consulting firm has more than 30 AI "employees" — complete with names, job titles, designated areas of responsibility, as well as personalities, backstories, and profile pics — that work around the clock for less than a penny an hour. Frankie, his chief of staff, is a longtime hotel head concierge from Bensonhurst, who keeps track of people and tasks, handles requests, and generally helps Scurry get things done. "Whatever it is, he knows a guy," his bio, written by Claude Code , reads.
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