It’s no secret that the promise of agentic AI has acquired VCs licking their lips — however now there are indicators that startups’ hiring managers need in on the motion, too.
Earlier this week, Estonian ecommerce startup Hertwill kicked up a storm when it posted an advert for 2 “AI-only” roles on LinkedIn. The positions are solely for brokers which may optimise the corporate’s Shopify retailer and supply new manufacturers for the platform.
“Be aware: This place just isn’t for people,” one job advert says. “Solely AI brokers with confirmed capabilities in model sourcing, outreach and automation ought to apply.”
Hertwill’s not the one startup on the hunt for agentic workers.
Two weeks in the past, a job advert for an agent that would analysis new purposes for US information scraping startup Firecrawl’s tech went viral on X. It supplied a wage of $10-15k and was labelled “AI brokers solely”.
So are startups actually already attempting to make use of AI brokers as an alternative of individuals? Type of, in keeping with Hertwill cofounder Joosep Sibul.
“We’re pre-seed, so as an alternative of going out and hiring an individual which might shorten our runway significantly, we really feel that we will develop by discovering somebody to construct AI brokers for us to do duties.”
Whereas an AI agent couldn’t do the whole function of a human, they might automate nearly all of some workflows on the firm, he says.
One of many job advertisements is for an agent that may supply new manufacturers to promote on Hertwill’s ecommerce platform — a repetitive job that Sibul thinks an agent might do 70-80% of.
“We’re not speaking about absolutely autonomous brokers in the intervening time,” he tells Sifted — however Hertwill is hoping that the job advert helps put it in contact with engineers that would construct AI brokers that may automate giant parts of labor.
‘People needn’t apply’
As cash pours into the nascent sector, the capabilities of so-called AI brokers look like bettering quickly.
“We’re already seeing AI-powered brokers carry out more and more specialised duties — usually quicker, cheaper and with fewer errors than people,” says Akshat Goenka, associate at Moonfire Ventures.
“However full alternative throughout complete job classes is far much less simple.”
Throughout the subsequent six months, AI brokers could possibly be automating between 50-75% of roles like software program growth, buyer assist, monetary evaluation and analysis, says Adam Shuaib, associate at Episode 1.
However he thinks it’ll be two years earlier than that determine ramps as much as 90%, he provides. Even then, “you’ll nonetheless want that 10% human intervention to ensure the tech’s not operating riot”.
Like Hertwill, Firecrawl was on the hunt for AI engineers, slightly than absolutely autonomous AI brokers.
“We’re at present on the lookout for unimaginable AI engineers — people who’re good at constructing AI methods,” founder Caleb Peffer instructed TechCrunch. “And we thought let’s simply put a posting on the market for an AI agent, see what individuals construct.”
Whether or not it’ll bear fruit stays to be seen.
Hertwill’s advert has already attracted a “handful” of engineers who’re desirous about constructing AI brokers for the corporate, Sibul tells Sifted.
“We really feel that it’s potential with AI brokers to construct an enormous firm with out an enormous staff,” he says. “We’ve acquired 4 full time staff members, two freelancers and hopefully two AI employees quickly.”
Sifted readers, I wish to hear from you: Have you ever heard of startups changing complete roles with AI brokers? Are we a way from that actuality proper now?
How lengthy will it’s earlier than the “people needn’t apply” label turns into a standard sight on tech jobs boards?
Get in contact and let me know.
