Our 2026 State of AI for Business Report surveyed more than 2,100 business professionals — 86% of whom are B2B marketers — and asked what AI training they want most.
The top two answers weren't about tools or models but about execution:
- 58% want training on integrating AI into their existing workflows.
- 51% want to learn how to use AI agents in their work.
The demand is clear. The “how” is harder.
Rachel Woods is the founder and CEO of The AI Momentum Protocols (AMP), and one of the leading practitioners on AI agents and workflow automation for business teams. We asked her to break down exactly how to approach this. Here's what she said.
1. Own the playbook, rent the tech.
Before touching any tool, the best teams think through the playbook: What they want the AI to do and how. They design from business problems and processes, not from tool capabilities. That discipline matters because it makes the playbook the asset you own. The tool is a rental. Tools change. A well-designed playbook holds.
2. Start with an expert in the loop, then earn your way out.
Don't start by automating. Instead, start by building the simplest version with AI handling what it can and a human reviewing everything. Every correction goes back into the instructions. You earn automation by progressively removing yourself from the loop. The trust has to be built before the autonomy is granted.
3. Prioritize momentum over perfection.
Find the smallest useful playbook you can build, get it working, and let momentum carry you forward. Think of playbooks like Lego blocks: Once the first one is running, you snap the next one on. Small wins compound. Teams that wait for the perfect system never build anything.
The approach, then, is not to get caught up in the tools or expect them to do all the heavy lifting. Focus on the process and the solution you seek. The tools, with human oversight, will help you get there.
Learn More
Woods will dig deeper on the topic of how teams can operationalize AI agents at scale at the AI for B2B Marketers Summit later this month. She’ll share more about how you and your team can build agent-powered workflows that you can trust and scale.
To register for the June 25 free, virtual summit, visit: https://www.marketingaiinstitute.com/events/ai-for-b2b-marketers-summit
Cathy McPhillips
Cathy McPhillips is the Chief Marketing Officer at SmarterX and Marketing AI Institute