From ChatGPT to Chief of Ops: How AI Agents Are Taking Work Off Your Plate

AI is everywhere right now. You’ve probably used it to write something, ask a question, or even get ideas for your business. But what if AI could do more than just help you? What if it could actually take work off your plate?

That’s exactly what Make.com’s new AI Agent does.

It’s like giving AI a job. One that it’s trained to do, all day, every day. This isn’t about replacing your team. It’s about letting AI handle the busywork, so you and your people can focus on what really matters.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

What an AI Agent really is
How it’s different from automation
What it can do in your business right now (without code!)
And how to get started, even if tech isn’t your thing

Let’s meet your newest team member.

What’s the Difference Between Automation and AI?

You might already be using automation in your business. That’s the part where something happens automatically, like sending a confirmation email when someone fills out a form.

But automation is like a set of instructions. It only does what you tell it to do, exactly how you told it to do it. No thinking. No decision-making. Just “If this happens, then do that.”

AI is different.

AI is like having someone on your team who can read the situation and decide what to do, in real time.

If you’ve seen Iron Man, you’ll remember Jarvis, the smart computer that helps Tony Stark run everything. He doesn’t just follow commands. He listens, learns, and takes action on his own to help things run better.

That’s what Make.com’s AI Agent does. It’s like giving your business its own version of Jarvis, a smart assistant that doesn’t just automate steps… it makes decisions inside your workflows.

So instead of just saying: “If this message comes in, send an alert.”
You can now say: “Watch for certain messages, figure out which ones are important, summarize them, and then decide if an alert is needed.”

That’s AI. And now, thanks to tools like Make.com, it’s simple enough for any business to use.

What Is an AI Agent (And Why You’ll Want One)

An AI Agent is like giving someone on your team a job, and then letting AI do it. It’s more than just a tool. It’s a digital teammate that listens, learns, and takes action inside your workflow.

With Make.com’s AI Agent, you can assign AI a specific role, like:

Keeping an eye on your inbox
Monitoring updates in Slack
Sorting through client messages
Or even deciding what needs to happen next based on what it sees

One of our clients did just that. They gave their AI Agent a name: Earl. Here’s how their Earl works:

It watches a private Slack channel where their field team drops updates about equipment, things like:

“The chipper’s leaking again.”
“Skidsteer just hit 500 hours.”
“Chainsaw won’t start, again.”

Earl reads those messages in real time. Then it:

Logs the issue in the CRM
Updates the maintenance record
Creates a task or work order if needed
Flags anything that looks urgent
Uses a built-in knowledge base to know when routine service is due

No more waiting for someone to read through messages. No more missed follow-ups. No more wondering, “Did we ever fix that?”

That’s the power of an AI Agent.

It’s not just automating a task, it’s owning a whole process. And the best part? You don’t need to be technical to set this up. Make.com gives you the tools to build your own Jarvis or Earl, without writing a single line of code.

Where AI Agents Fit In Your Business

You don’t need to be running a tech company to use AI in a powerful way. The truth is, most service businesses already have more “AI-friendly” work than they realize, they just don’t know it yet.

AI Agents are perfect for those repetitive, decision-based tasks that eat up time. Especially the ones no one really owns (but still matter). Here are just a few roles we’ve seen AI Agents step into:

Inventory Control Your AI Agent can monitor supply levels, check usage patterns, and even place reorders or send alerts when stock is low. Think of it like a digital warehouse assistant, always watching, always updating, never forgets.

Lead Qualification Instead of someone digging through cold emails or LinkedIn profiles, your AI Agent can scan new leads and rank them based on how good of a fit they are. It can look for job titles, industry keywords, shared connections, or even past buying behaviors. Now your sales team only talks to the most promising leads, without the research overhead.

Scheduling + Calendar Coordination Imagine an assistant who knows your availability, your team’s workload, and your client priorities, and can suggest or even book meetings accordingly. Your AI Agent can analyze patterns, send scheduling links, or help prioritize based on urgency.

Project Management Support Your AI Agent can help monitor task progress, flag bottlenecks, summarize updates, or assign tasks when key steps are triggered. It’s like a traffic cop for your workflows, keeping everything moving and making sure no task falls through the cracks.

Whether it’s behind the scenes or client-facing, AI Agents aren’t just tools, they’re team players. You don’t have to replace your people. You just give your people better support, and free up their time for what really matters.

How to Set Up Your First AI Agent (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

If this is your first time using AI for more than content or emails, good news: you don’t have to figure it all out at once. In fact, the best way to start is slow and simple.

Step 1: Write a Job Description for Your AI Agent

Treat your AI Agent like a new team member. Ask yourself:

What role do I want it to play?
What decisions will it need to make?
What kind of info will it listen for, and what should it do with it?

Example
“I want Jarvis to listen to a Slack channel where the team drops equipment updates. If something needs maintenance, log it in the CRM and assign a task.”

Clarity here saves time (and confusion) later.

Step 2: Test One Action at a Time

Don’t throw everything at your AI Agent at once. Start by teaching it just one thing:

Monitor a message
Summarize an email
Categorize a request
Create a task

Once it’s getting that right, then move to the next step.

💡Pro Tip This is where Make.com shines. It lets you build workflows visually, so you can see exactly what your AI Agent is doing (and fix it fast if needed).

Step 3: Crawl, Walk, Run

Here’s the rollout strategy I use with clients:

Crawl: One action, one trigger, one output. Test it often.
Walk: Add conditional logic. Let your AI Agent make simple decisions.
Run: Start linking multiple flows together. Now it’s truly supporting you like a team member.

Smooth, controlled growth = less frustration and way more confidence.

The goal isn’t to automate everything at once. It’s to get one thing working so well that you trust the system, then build from there.

Final Thoughts: AI Is Changing Business & You Don’t Have to Navigate It Alone

AI isn’t just hype, it’s happening. And the businesses that start now? They’re the ones that will lead the next wave.

You don’t need to be a developer. You don’t need to figure it all out on your own. You just need a clear goal, the right setup… and a guide who’s done this before. This isn’t rocket science, but it is a lot easier with a CTO-type brain on your side.

That’s where we come in.

We help pioneering business owners (just like you) turn AI from a confusing buzzword into a trusted team member. Together, we’ll design a Jarvis that actually works, for your business, your team, and your vision.

Ready to give AI its first job in your company? Let’s build something powerful together.

📅 Book a free AI Agent strategy call and let’s map it out, step-by-step.

About The Author

Sarah Bronkema

Sarah Bronkema is a consultant specializing in Monday.com and No Code Integration solutions, helping businesses streamline workflows through automation. With over a decade of experience in building efficient systems, she combines her analytical mindset and tech expertise to simplify operations for growing companies. Her experience spans building a multi six-figure logistics agency and managing complex operations, where she honed her skills in optimizing processes. With a B.B.A. in Business Management, Sarah pivoted into consulting, combining strategy with technology to simplify operations and drive sustainable growth. She’s passionate about empowering business owners to work smarter, reduce internal workloads, and focus on what matters most.