Agentic artificial intelligence is a major priority for Canadian business leaders looking to transition to an agentic AI-human workforce, according to the “Global AI Pulse” report published by KPMG International.
Sixty-six percent of business leaders are shifting towards a workforce that fully integrates agentic AI, which requires little human supervision. Seventy-seven percent of executives at Canadian companies have adopted agents for knowledge sharing across departments.
Per KPMG, agentic AI forms a key aspect of Canadian executives’ strategy to spur operational efficiency.
“As organizations move quickly to scale AI agents, we’re seeing a generational shift in how work gets done. Business leaders are starting to design roles, teams and workflows on the assumption that humans and agents will work together, with agents taking on work such as research and coordination, and people focusing on judgement, decision-making and accountability,” said Stephanie Terrill, KPMG Canada’s Canadian managing partner of digital and transformation, in a statement.
Terrill explained that the change had implications for “everything from operating models to governance and risk management, as well as commercial and workforce planning considerations.” Fifty-nine percent and 63 percent of business leaders indicated that the processes of hiring entry-level and experienced workers, respectively, have changed due to AI agents.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents expect AI collaboration competencies to be incorporated into performance reviews and role requirements. Another 39 percent are emphasizing human skills like critical thinking and contextual awareness; 36 percent are highlighting AI literacy and effective agent delegation in promotion criteria.
Fifty-two percent of business leaders anticipate that AI could match human-level reasoning within three to five years. Forty-six percent of organizations are spotlighting creative thinking capability in hiring new talent, while 44 percent and 43 percent emphasize problem-solving skills adaptability.
Thirty-nine percent of business leaders forecast that within the next two to three years, agents may be spearheading project management for teams. Thirty-one percent expect AI agents to complete tasks alongside humans as peers.
“We’re moving into a phase where AI isn’t just supporting work in the background but is now actively shaping how organizations think about talent. That’s changing the way employers assess people, with more weight being placed on how individuals apply judgment, think critically and operate in environments where AI is embedded into day-to-day work,” said Lewis Curley, KPMG Canada people and change partner. “At the same time, it reinforces the importance of human skills. According to our survey data, 65 percent of business leaders say social and interpersonal capabilities now matter more than technical expertise, which highlights that success will come from how effectively people combine those strengths with AI.”
KPMG surveyed 2,110 C-suite and business leaders across the globe for the "Global AI Pulse" report. Of these respondents, 306 were Canadian.