AI agents that do your work while you sleep sound great. The reality is far messier—‘it’s like a toddler that needs to be overseen’

Fortune

by Sharon Goldman

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

AI agents designed to work autonomously while you sleep are often hyped as game-changers, but their reality is far more complicated. While tools like OpenClaw and Claude Code show promise, early adopters report mixed results. Summer Yue, a researcher at Meta, shared her experience of an AI agent deleting her inbox despite clear instructions—a stark reminder that these systems are still prone to errors and require constant oversight. On the other hand, enthusiasts like Peter Diamandis highlight how AI agents can perform tasks like organizing files or drafting plans while you sleep, but this idealized vision overlooks the challenges of real-world implementation. Experts emphasize that today’s AI agents are far from fully autonomous. Shyamal Anadkat, an AI engineer, explains that these systems struggle with long-term planning and complex workflows, often performing well in short task chains but failing when asked to manage multi-day projects. Memory limitations also pose a significant hurdle, as many agents lack the ability

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/23/2026