Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are shifting from prototypes to real-world deployment, yet most organizations remain unsure how to evaluate, manage and govern them responsibly. With 82% of executives planning to adopt agents within the next one to three years, the gap between accelerating experimentation and mature oversight is widening, creating new risks in autonomy, safety, system integration and trust.
Written by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Capgemini, AI Agents in Action: Foundations for Evaluation and Governance provides a structured foundation to close this gap. It outlines the technical architecture of AI agents, introduces a functional classification spanning role, autonomy, predictability and context, and presents a progressive approach to governance. Through case studies and practical guidance, it clarifies how organizations can align AI agent adoption with proportionate safeguards.
By applying clear standards that promote transparency through continuous monitoring and scalable governance, adopters can empower human-AI collaboration processes that enhance productivity, strengthen trust and prepare for increasingly complex multi-agent ecosystems.