In a CNBC Worldwide Exchange interview at the 2025 SuperReturn International event in Berlin, Robert F. Smith discussed how agentic artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape enterprise software and the global economy. Specifically, he shared four key insights into how this technology is driving change. 

These changes include redefining profitability benchmarks, transforming the role of knowledge workers, reshaping cybersecurity needs and ultimately fueling the evolution of enterprise software. Together, these takeaways show that agentic AI is not simply an upgrade, but a fundamental shift that will determine which companies thrive in the future.

1. Agentic AI Turns the Rule of 40 Into the Rule of 70

In the interview, Smith explained that agentic AI will impact enterprise software in three stages. First, software companies will become agentic by building this technology into their digital infrastructure. 

Second, once companies adopt these tools, they will begin to grow faster and become more profitable. Smith pointed to the “Rule of 40,” a benchmark that measures the combination of a software company’s growth and profitability. He predicted that agentic AI will push it to become the “Rule of 70,” allowing companies to achieve higher performance through productivity gains.Finally, in the third stage, only the companies that adopt and implement agentic AI quickly and effectively will remain competitive.

2. Agentic AI Will Transform the Role of Knowledge Workers

Smith also discussed how agentic AI can help knowledge workers become more productive in areas like customer service. Knowledge workers are employees who use their expertise and experience to create value, often driving creativity and innovation within a company. 

With agentic AI-powered tools, a customer service department can handle more inquiries at once, boosting productivity. This approach goes beyond traditional solutions like call center overflow platforms, which still require employees to respond to each customer individually.

3. Agentic AI Solutions Will Require Quantum Encryption

Agentic AI will also change how companies think about cybersecurity. As businesses deploy multiple AI agents, they create more entry points that hackers could target. To protect against these risks, companies will need stronger safeguards like quantum encryption, which can secure sensitive data against cyber threats. In other words, adopting agentic AI must go hand in hand with upgrading cybersecurity to support sustainable growth.

4. Agentic AI Will Fuel Enterprise Software, Not Replace It

The main takeaway from the interview is that agentic AI is transforming software companies rather than replacing them. However, this technological development does present an imperative for these companies to either adapt or face obsolescence in the future. 

There was a similar transformation in enterprise software with the introduction of cloud technology, forcing companies to transform their business processes. Now, these cloud-based software companies are incorporating agentic-AI agents into their business processes. Both of these transformations result in higher profitability through efficiency and reductions in operational costs. 

As technology evolves, the companies that will succeed are the ones that ride the wave of digital transformation. Becoming the first to adopt technology can turn a company into an industry leader, helping to move the enterprise software business forward. These technological upgrades do not render software obsolete, but help update its core functionality. The end result is a software company better equipped to compete for investment and market share.

Watch Smith’s full interview with Frank Holland and Leslie Picker on CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange from the 2025 SuperReturn International event in Berlin: