98: How to Build AI Agents That Automate Workflows Without Coding with Etan Polinger Artwork

Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders

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Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders

98: How to Build AI Agents That Automate Workflows Without Coding with Etan Polinger

April 06, 2026 • Chris Daigle

0:00 | 1:00:41

Most leaders think AI agents are too technical to build, but the real barrier is not skill, it is clarity.

In this episode Chris talks with Etan Polinger, AI Solutions Architect and Head of AI Solutions, about how non-technical professionals can design, build, and deploy AI agents that drive real business outcomes. Etan breaks down what an agent actually is, how to think about automation versus agentic workflows, and why fundamentals matter more than tools in a rapidly changing AI landscape.

They explore practical examples from inbox automation to project intelligence systems, along with the frameworks Etan uses to help operators move from idea to deployed solution. If you want to move beyond AI curiosity and start building systems that create leverage inside your business, this episode shows you where to begin and how to think about it.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:12 Why Asking Better Questions Unlocks AI

00:33 What Is Actually Possible With AI Today

00:52 What an AI Agent Really Is

01:46 Bridging AI Hype and Real Execution

03:05 Why Non-Technical People Can Now Build

05:19 Where Business Leaders Should Start

08:52 Real Examples of AI Agents in Action

13:57 The Right Way to Start Building With AI

17:36 How Long It Takes to Learn This Skill

22:13 Why Your AI Builds Keep Breaking