The 'Godfather of SaaS' says he replaced most of his sales team with AI agents: 'We're done with hiring humans' (www.businessinsider.com)

SaaStr, led by founder Jason Lemkin, has taken a bold step into the future of sales by replacing most of its sales team with 20 AI agents. Following the resignation of two high-paid employees, Lemkin decided to pivot away from human hiring, stating, "We're done with hiring humans in sales." These AI agents can autonomously complete tasks such as problem-solving and action planning, significantly enhancing productivity by automating roles traditionally filled by human sales representatives. This significant shift underscores a growing trend within the AI/ML community where companies are increasingly integrating AI to optimize workflows and reduce costs. Lemkin's approach mirrors successful strategies from other tech companies, where AI agents are trained using the methods of top performers to replicate their effectiveness. While the potential for increased productivity is substantial, experts have raised concerns about cybersecurity risks associated with AI agents' access to critical systems. Despite these challenges, Lemkin believes that AI agents not only match human productivity but offer greater efficiency and scalability.