Agentic AI in Business: Lopus AI, Anthropic-Databricks Collaboration, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Emerging Tech from Cuba

Aamish Ahmad Beg, CEO/CTO of Lopus AI, argues that AI is transitioning from a technical tool to a business imperative, particularly through the widespread deployment of agentic AI—software agents that optimize tasks and workflows using real-time data. McKinsey forecasts $4.4 trillion in economic gains from AI integration, while Gartner anticipates a significant rise in AI-driven agents by 2028. These systems enhance decision-making, streamline back-office functions, and offer up to 40% productivity gains by automating routine tasks. However, these benefits demand robust IT infrastructure and significant reskilling of the workforce, as Forrester predicts high failure rates due to system complexity. Businesses that embrace AI and upskill staff are expected to lead in the digital economy, leveraging AI's strategic advantages in efficiency and cost reduction. (Source)

Businesses are increasingly prioritizing comprehensive Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) solutions beyond traditional data backups due to rising IT disasters and downtime costs. A survey from the State of BCDR Report 2025 indicates that over half of organizations intend to upgrade their backup solutions, with a focus on effective disaster recovery processes. Datto BCDR emerges as a standout all-in-one platform, combining cloud and local resources to provide seamless, cost-effective business continuity. Key features include Datto's Inverse Chain Technology™ for efficient backup and fast recovery, automated backup verification, and advanced disaster recovery capabilities through the Datto Cloud. Endorsed by industry professionals like Total Communications' CEO Scott Lennon, Datto BCDR offers swift recovery with innovative tools like 1-Click Disaster Recovery, ensuring businesses maintain operations with minimal disruption. (Source)

Avangenio, a Cuban software company, has introduced SocIA, a new AI platform aimed at overcoming international embargo restrictions by providing a domestic alternative for Cuban businesses. SocIA can handle text, audio, and video formats, and is integrated with Avangenio's tools like NosWork and ERPNext. The platform offers features such as task automation and data analysis, adaptable for various sectors including public health and education. SocIA is available in three versions: Basic, Team, and Enterprise. Alain Abel Garófalo, Avangenio's AI strategy leader, emphasized the importance of AI for Cuban companies to stay competitive globally. Meanwhile, President Miguel Díaz-Canel has intensified his advocacy for AI as a solution to Cuba's structural challenges, despite the disconnect between official plans and on-the-ground realities. President Díaz-Canel further called for integrating AI into university curricula and suggested using AI and robotics to address industrial inefficiencies, asserting these technologies are key to Cuba's future. (Source)

Generative AI companies Anthropic and Databricks have partnered to offer AI tools for businesses, targeting to raise $100 million in five years as they face pressure to justify their high valuations amid concerns over a potential AI bubble burst. They plan to leverage each other's sales teams to market products aimed at large corporations wanting to create AI agents capable of automating complex tasks, like ordering food through a mobile app. With mutual customers like Block, which utilizes their technology for its AI operations, they aim to integrate Databricks' cloud data storage with Anthropic's AI, Claude. Despite the technology's buzz, they face challenges in revenue generation and overcoming perceptions of inaccuracy in agentic AI, as their rivals such as OpenAI and Microsoft explore similar AI applications. (Source)

Microsoft has introduced two new AI reasoning agents, Researcher and Analyst, to its Microsoft 365 Copilot suite, aiming to enhance productivity by automating complex workflows. Researcher is designed for conducting extensive multi-step research projects using internal and external data sources, while Analyst focuses on data analysis, generating insights with OpenAI’s o3-mini reasoning model, and supports Python-based computations. These tools will initially be available in April via Microsoft’s early-access "Frontier" program for Copilot users. Additionally, Microsoft is updating its Copilot Studio to offer deeper reasoning and automation capabilities for creating tailored AI-driven workflows. (Source)