Victory, Then the Nazgûl
If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you’ll no doubt remember the look on Théoden’s face when he believes victory is at hand on the Pelennor Fields, only to see the flying Nazgûl arrive, signaling that the battle is far from over.
IT leaders are feeling the same. Just as they start to get comfortable with one wave of AI innovation, another one swoops in. ChatGPT agents are the latest, and they’re arriving with a new promise (or threat0 of fundamentally changing how work is done.
The Fear of Never Catching Up
The challenge isn’t just AI itself. It’s the speed.
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First came simple chat interfaces.
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Then came copilots, embedded in everything from Microsoft Dynamics to Excel.
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Now, agents are knocking on the door, ready to act on behalf of teams, triggering workflows and making decisions with minimal oversight.
It’s natural to ask:
How can IT leadership keep up when the technology shifts before the ink is dry on the last rollout?
The truth is, many can’t. And that’s the fear no one wants to say out loud.
The Real Risk: Losing Control
When AI tools evolve faster than policies, systems, or people can adapt, IT leaders face three real risks:
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Unvetted AI creeping into workflows. Shadow AI isn’t a future problem, it’s happening in every department already.
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Security gaps. Agents that connect multiple apps may create new vulnerabilities if they’re not tightly managed.
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Talent misalignment. Teams trained on yesterday’s AI features are already behind on today’s.
It’s less about replacing roles and more about replacing control with chaos.
The Pace of Change
ChatGPT agents represent the next level of autonomy.
Unlike copilots, which still require human prompting, agents remember, plan, and act proactively. This is a fundamental leap and it’s happening before most companies have even figured out their first AI governance framework.
I’m already hearing IT leaders say:
“We’re still piloting Copilot, and now we’re supposed to figure out agents too? We haven’t even defined the rules yet.”
So, What Can IT Leaders Do?
Instead of trying to tame the entire AI universe, focus on building adaptable guardrails.
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Establish principles for safe AI experimentation.
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Create oversight checkpoints, even if the tech changes every quarter.
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Align with partners who are already testing these tools at scale and can share the playbook.
The goal isn’t to keep up with every single advancement. It’s to create confidence that your organization can adapt safely and quickly when needed.
Final Thought
You need an experienced partner who can guide you through this (think Aragorn leading the hobbits through the wilderness). Someone who knows the terrain, can spot the risks, and will help you find the best path forward.
“If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword.” – Aragorn
We are all of us, already on the AI journey, so not going forward is not an option. Each of us needs to figure out the best companions that will get our companies over the next hill safely.
