The upgraded AI agent can analyse business data, manage multistep workflows and identify operational issues, with CEO Ali Ghodsi demonstrating its use in internal decision-making.
Databricks has introduced an upgraded version of its Genie AI agent, designed to autonomously manage complex enterprise tasks and provide business leaders with insights drawn from organisational data. The second-generation platform allows users to assign multistep activities that can continue running in the background with limited human intervention.
Announced on November 11, 2026, the updated Genie uses a new system called Genie Ontology to understand relationships between business data, employees, processes and organisational structures. According to the company, this contextual understanding enables the agent to analyse information and recommend actions based on how an organisation operates.
Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi demonstrated the technology using his own internal workflows, showing how the agent helps him identify operational challenges and evaluate business decisions.
In one example, Genie analysed employee satisfaction survey results to identify areas where the company had received lower scores. It also assessed potential solutions proposed by executives, helping Ghodsi evaluate which approaches might be less effective.
The agent was also used to review an unsuccessful sales presentation, identifying customer concerns and product capabilities requested by a prospective client.
Additionally, Genie helped prepare Ghodsi for a podcast interview by analysing previous appearances and suggesting potential questions.
Ghodsi said the technology could help senior executives access information that might not otherwise reach them through traditional organisational reporting structures.
With approximately 12,000 employees, Databricks faces the challenge of maintaining visibility across different departments and business functions. Ghodsi suggested that AI agents could help executives identify problems and obtain more direct insights as organisations expand.
Beyond analysing information, the upgraded Genie can independently coordinate tasks, delegate work to specialised AI agents and monitor progress. It can also request additional information and notify users when decisions require human input.
The platform integrates with enterprise information sources through Genie Search, which supports more than 100 data sources, including business applications such as Google Drive, Jira and Confluence.
Databricks said the system operates within its existing enterprise environment, using Unity Catalog and Unity Gateway to manage permissions, governance and AI usage.
Unity Gateway also allows organisations to establish spending limits and select different AI models, including lower-cost open-weight alternatives, to manage operational expenses.
The company is positioning Genie as an enterprise assistant capable of supporting activities beyond conventional conversational AI, including business analysis, workflow management and executive decision support.
Genie and Genie Ontology are generally available to customers, while the new always-on capabilities, Genie Search and Ontology Manager are expected to enter preview and beta programmes.
The launch reflects Databricks' expansion into autonomous enterprise AI applications, although the company has not disclosed independent performance benchmarks for the upgraded agent.
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