The New York Times · 25 Oct, 09:01 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

Put Your A.I. Agents to Work With These 5 Killer Tasks

The New York Times identifies five high-value tasks suitable for delegation to artificial intelligence agents.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

25–40%salary premium for professionals with applied AI skills

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The New York Times identifies five high-value tasks suitable for delegation to artificial intelligence agents. The article moves beyond theoretical discussions to outline practical applications where autonomous AI systems can execute complex workflows independently. It highlights specific operational areas where these digital assistants can enhance efficiency and reduce manual workload. The report serves as a practical guide for professionals seeking to integrate emerging technology into daily routines, focusing on tangible productivity gains rather than speculative future scenarios.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift signals that proficiency with autonomous AI tools is becoming a core professional competency. You must evolve from simple prompt engineering to strategic agent orchestration. Roles involving workflow design, process optimisation, and technical oversight will see increased demand. Professionals who ignore this trend risk obsolescence as peers leverage agents for greater output. You should immediately audit your routine tasks to identify candidates for automation. Start experimenting with available agent platforms to understand their limitations and capabilities. Develop the ability to supervise AI outputs critically, ensuring accuracy and alignment with business goals. This proactive approach positions you as an early adopter, enhancing your value to employers seeking efficiency-driven talent.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Project Management and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.