Managing a combined people and AI operation

At Dreamforce 2026, one implication stood out. Enterprises must decide how humans and AI agents divide work. They must also determine how digital workers are governed and measured.

The standard for performance needs to be clear. An agent should have a defined role and an accountable owner. Its performance should show whether it improves the business process it supports.

Economics also matter. An organization needs to understand the cost of deploying an agent and the value it creates over time. It must also identify where human judgment remains essential.

The next chapter for workforce management

This is an important area for TP. We have spent decades operating complex workforces and business processes. That experience now needs to evolve for an operation that combines people with AI.

The work starts with the design of each workflow. AI agents can take defined actions within clear boundaries. human experts should take responsibility where judgment is required.

That division of work needs to be deliberate. Digital workers require governance. human teams need clear authority to intervene when a case falls outside the expected path.

The operating model must bring these parts together. It should set the rules for how work moves between people and AI agents. It should also make performance visible across the process.

Building a workforce that performs

The strongest AI deployments will treat digital workers as part of the operating workforce. That means applying the same discipline that organizations use to manage complex processes today.

TP brings operational experience to this shift. We help clients define roles for AI agents and establish governance around their work. We also help them measure performance against business outcomes.

The next phase of enterprise AI will depend on how well organizations manage this combined people and AI operation. It requires responsible use. It also requires an economic model that can scale and earn trust. 

In the latest episode of The Scoop with TP, I share why the management of people and AI agents is one of the biggest implications emerging from Dreamforce 2026. 

Stay tuned for the full episode on TP Group's YouTube channel.