Green Claims Under Scrutiny: What Companies Should Do Now to Prepare for EmpCo
Sustainability has long been an integral part of corporate communications, product marketing, and brand positioning. Products are described as “climate-friendly,” brands as “sustainable,” and business models as “future-proof.” What was once considered positive positioning will be subject to significantly stricter regulation in the future. With the new EU Directive “Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition,” […]
15 competitors, one AI agent, robust results: Rethinking sustainability benchmarking
Anyone who wants to make strategic decisions on sustainability needs more than a gut feeling. They need orientation: What are others doing? Where do we stand ourselves? And what is really common practice in our industry? These were exactly the questions at the start of our joint project with Maritim Hotelgesellschaft. The goal was systematic […]
Experiment with AI agents
AI agents make operational decisions: Andon Labs’ AI experiment highlights the potential and risks of autonomous AI systems in day-to-day business.
AI Agents in Sustainability Management: Using Automation Strategically
The term “AI agent” is being used excessively—often without a clear distinction from chatbots or classic AI tools. In this Sustainability x AI series talk, Nextra Consulting GmbH and Carlotta Meyer-Burgdorff provide clarity: What are AI agents really, where is their added value compared to simpler AI solutions, and which use cases in sustainability management […]
How do AI agents work?
AI agents work by pursuing defined goals, processing relevant information from various sources, and—based on that—independently executing actions or preparing decisions. They combine AI models with clear rules, process logic, and system integrations to reliably take over specific tasks. Technically, AI agents consist of several interlocking components. First, they ingest input—for example, from documents, databases, […]
What is the difference between AI agents and chatbots?
AI agents are task-oriented systems that autonomously execute processes or prepare decisions, while chatbots are primarily designed for dialog-based interaction. The difference lies less in the AI technology used than in the objective, depth of integration, and scope of action. Chatbots are typically specialized in answering queries or conducting simple dialogs. They respond to inputs, […]
What can AI agents realistically achieve today?
AI agents can already reliably automate recurring tasks, analyze information, and prepare decisions. They don’t replace employees, but they do take on clearly defined tasks efficiently, at scale, and in a transparent, traceable way. In practice, AI agents make a stable contribution primarily where structured or semi-structured tasks arise. This includes, for example, processing and […]
What are AI agents?
AI agents are software-based systems that independently carry out tasks, support decision-making, or automate processes by using artificial intelligence in a targeted way. They do not operate in isolation; instead, they are embedded in existing processes, data sources, and systems, and act according to clearly defined goals and rules. Unlike traditional automation or simple chatbots, […]
What types of AI agents are there?
AI agents can be categorized into different types based on their function and application context. In practice, they primarily differ in the tasks they perform, how autonomously they act, and how deeply they are integrated into processes. A common category is assistance and analysis agents. They support employees by researching, structuring, summarizing, or evaluating information. […]
