Imagine hiring a new employee who works around the clock, never takes a break and can place orders or move money on its own. Now imagine hiring that worker without checking references. That is roughly the risk companies take when they rush artificial intelligence agents into their operations.

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AI agents are tools that can plan and carry out tasks with little human input. Companies need a smarter way to try these tools before rolling them out, attorneys Spencer Glende and Samuel J. Hartman of law firm Mayer Brown said in a Thursday (Oct. 22) article that appeared on Mondaq. The answer is a well-designed pilot program backed by a strong contract.

Companies tend to fall into one of two traps, the article said. Some move too fast and launch agents before they understand what the tools can and can’t do. That can lead to wasted money, legal trouble or damage to a company’s reputation. Others get so worried about the risks that they give up on tools that could deliver real value.

The stakes are high either way, according to the article. Depending on how they are used and controlled, “AI agents may bring game-changing gains or cause irreversible harm.”

The authors said their advice is to treat a pilot like a job interview. A careful employer checks whether a candidate has the right skills, can be trusted and is worth the salary.

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