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  1. HBR IdeaCast
  2. With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI
With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

HBR IdeaCast · Feb 17, 2026

Welcome to the age of 'Identic AI,' where personal AI agents act as our superpowers, transforming management, work, and corporate structures.

In the AI Era, Lifelong Employability Depends on Timeless Capabilities, Not Perishable Skills

As AI outsources thinking, specific job "skills" have a shorter shelf life. The new focus for education and corporate training must be on developing durable human "capabilities"—critical thinking, collaboration, and discerning truth from falsehood—that are necessary to effectively manage and leverage an AI superpower.

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI thumbnail

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

HBR IdeaCast·2 days ago

AI-Driven Collapse in Transaction Costs Will Force a Radical Redesign of the Corporation

Citing Nobel laureate Ronald Coase, the speaker explains that firms exist because coordinating work has high "transaction costs." AI devastates these costs by simplifying search, coordination, and trust-building. This paves the way for new organizational structures, like AI-enhanced DAOs, that challenge the traditional corporate hierarchy.

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI thumbnail

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

HBR IdeaCast·2 days ago

Identic AI Makes Execution a Commodity, Shifting Competitive Advantage to Strategic Thinking

AI agents will automate execution tasks at machine speed, nullifying the old business mantra that "execution is strategy." A firm's value will no longer come from *doing* things efficiently, but from the uniquely human ability to think big picture, choose the right goals, and make high-quality strategic judgments.

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI thumbnail

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

HBR IdeaCast·2 days ago

Employee AI Sovereignty Emerges as a Critical Business Risk Demanding Self-Owned Models

Who owns an employee's personalized AI agent? If a tech giant owns this extension of an individual's intelligence, it poses a huge risk of manipulation. Companies must champion a "self-sovereign" model where individuals own their Identic AI to ensure security, autonomy, and prevent external influence on their thinking.

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI thumbnail

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

HBR IdeaCast·2 days ago

Identic AI Eliminates Information Relay, Forcing Middle Management's Role to Evolve from Coordinator to Governor

Middle management traditionally existed to manage information flow. Identic AI makes information direct and contextual for everyone, removing the need for this "signal booster" role. Middle managers must transition from supervising work to exercising judgment, ensuring accountability, and governing AI systems to create value.

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI thumbnail

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

HBR IdeaCast·2 days ago

AI Agents Redefine Employee Knowledge Portability, Separating Personal Cognition from Company IP

When an employee with an Identic AI leaves, a new IP challenge arises. The proposed solution is that the agent retains the individual's learned patterns and judgment—their "personal cognitive development"—but loses all access to the former employer's proprietary data. This distinction will become a central framework for future employment agreements.

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI thumbnail

With Rise of Agents, We Are Entering the World of Identic AI

HBR IdeaCast·2 days ago