At NEWSCENTRAL, we observe that the agent-based artificial intelligence market is transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to one of deliberate development. After two years of swift expansion, during which every tech company rushed to launch its own agent-based AI solution, the industry has reached a point of saturation. This is not a sign of crisis but a natural stage of evolution—a moment when enthusiasm gives way to engineering maturity and business realism.
According to Senior Analyst Freddy Miller, today the agent AI market resembles the mobile app market of a decade ago: “At first, everyone wanted to create their own assistant, now everyone wants their own agent. But in a mature market, those who survive are not the loudest, but those who build an ecosystem and solve real business problems.”
Leading players like Microsoft, Salesforce, and AWS are integrating agent technologies into their corporate solutions, turning them from auxiliary tools into full-fledged components of digital infrastructure. Agent AI is becoming a crucial element of corporate automation, capable of performing tasks on behalf of employees rather than merely assisting them. However, NEWSCENTRAL’s analysis shows that market supply already significantly exceeds demand: out of hundreds of solutions, only a small fraction truly implements autonomous AI principles, while most are updated versions of chatbots or RPA systems.
We call this phenomenon “agent rebranding”: many companies seek to leverage the popular term without delivering technological breakthroughs. Nevertheless, we see that market maturity will inevitably lead to correction. By our estimates, about 40% of existing startups will either be absorbed by large corporations or cease operations within the next two years. This is not a failure but a filter that separates marketing noise from genuine innovation.
Major tech companies have already begun consolidation, acquiring specialized AI projects. In our view, this process will form the foundation for sustainable ecosystems, where agent solutions integrate with data pipelines, security, and business analytics. Those who can provide not only autonomy but also transparency, manageability, and security will benefit.
Security becomes especially critical. Agent AI, when granted access to internal systems, carries not only advantages but also risks. Our research shows that fewer than a quarter of companies have clearly defined audit and security protocols for their digital agents. This creates vulnerabilities that could result in significant data loss or financial risk. At NEWSCENTRAL, we are confident that security must not be an add-on but the architectural core of agent intelligence.
Equally important is explainability and ethics. Autonomous agents are already capable of making decisions that affect company processes and customer interactions. Without clear transparency frameworks, these systems can exceed manageable boundaries. The “human-in-the-loop” principle remains relevant—autonomy should not exclude accountability, and trust in AI must be built through clarity of its actions.
At the same time, real practical successes are emerging. In finance, agent AI automates compliance and reporting; in cybersecurity, it accelerates incident analysis; in logistics, it optimizes routes and supply chain management. This shows that the technology is moving beyond experiments and becoming part of business strategies.
However, the greatest challenge is not technical but cultural. Corporations often underestimate the importance of embedding corporate values and norms into digital agents. An agent that does not share these values can cause reputational damage as significant as a system error. We believe that cultural compatibility must be embedded in AI system design as a trust element rather than a control measure.
According to NEWSCENTRAL, by 2029, less than a quarter of today’s market players will remain. The winners will be companies creating vertically integrated agent AI platforms that cover the full cycle—from data to interfaces and industry-specific solutions. Meanwhile, about a third of corporate applications will have embedded agent features, and 15% will be capable of fully autonomous operations.
For businesses just entering the agent intelligence space, we recommend a step-by-step approach. Start with pilot projects, design architecture with security and transparency in mind, ensure the quality of the data that trains the agents, and avoid trying to be universal—specialization currently offers the greatest chance of success. Partnerships and shared standards are becoming more important than isolation and the race for loud marketing.
The agent AI market is not slowing down—it is maturing. The stage of chaotic growth is being replaced by engineering realism. In the coming years, agent technologies will become not just another innovation but a systemic element of corporate governance. At NEWSCENTRAL, we are confident that those who can combine autonomy and accountability will build a new business architecture where artificial intelligence becomes not a tool but a full strategic partner.