No humans needed: Man runs company with AI agents, GPT says saves money and work hours
A Florida entrepreneur is running his company almost entirely with AI agents, including HR, legal, finance, and operations, while saving about 20 hours a week. Here’s the full story.
There is growing concern about humans losing their jobs to AI, and many workers are already feeling its effects. In tech industries, companies like Amazon and Google are reportedly laying off employees, either to cut the costs of investing in AI or because automated systems can now perform tasks previously handled by humans. Business Insider recently interviewed an entrepreneur who found out just how far this trend can go. Aaron Sneed, a Florida-based defense-tech entrepreneur, is running his entire company by delegating roles like human resources, supply chain, communications, legal, quality control, and data management to AI agents. He suggested that AI agents help reduce costs and save working hours, as humans take longer to finish tasks and are also expensive.
“I created what I call ‘The Council,'” Sneed said. “This helps me save about 20 hours a week, and that’s a very conservative estimate.” The Council is made up of approximately 15 AI agents, each trained for a specific task. The center has a Chief of Staff agent who prioritizes tasks and ensures that critical areas like compliance, security and legal are handled first. For Sneed, who started the business as a solo founder, AI isn’t just a convenience, it’s a lifeline.
No need for humans? Man is running a company with AI agents: Here’s how
Sneed’s journey into a fully AI-powered operation is based on over a decade of experience with autonomous platforms. That background made him an early adopter of commercial large language models and AI tools. Using OpenAI’s ChatGPIT business platform and Nvidia hardware, they created a system where AI agents don’t just follow instructions, they challenge ideas, analyze proposals, and provide feedback.
“I trained my AI agents to respond, not just say ‘yes,'” Sneed explained. “I want them to test my theories and help me see blind spots.”
He also revealed that the “council” meets in virtual roundtable meetings, collectively reviewing documents and proposals, reducing errors and knowledge gaps. Each agent takes about two weeks of intensive training to reach the level of proficiency expected by Sneed, but once on board, they handle tasks that a single founder could never manage alone.
Beyond efficiency, the system has improved Sneed’s own capabilities. “The models have gotten better and my motivation has gotten better,” he said. “I learned how to set priorities and provide the right context so that the outputs are accurate.”
For Sneed, AI is perhaps not just a tool, it is an ally that enhances a person’s ability to operate as efficiently as possible.
He believes that humans cannot be completely replaced by AI.
Despite the efficiencies, Sneed acknowledged that AI cannot replace human judgment. For example, its legal agent may draft documents and process data, but important decisions still rest with a human lawyer.
“Even if I thought my agent was right, it still can’t replace a lawyer with that human context, experience and skills,” he said.
Looking ahead, Sneed envisions a hybrid future where humans work alongside AI “chiefs of staff” who manage repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on strategy, oversight, and complex problem-solving. However, there is no mention of when he plans to hire humans for his company. But, the latest episode makes it clear that AI is likely to reduce many human work roles and only a few skilled people will get the privilege to work and earn money. Although this seems like a dire and scary future for humans, only time will tell how humans will be able to cope with it.