Pax8 launches 8os to let IT partners govern AI agents and 8bot as a managed AI co-worker

Pax8 Inc., a small business software marketplace, has introduced two new products aimed at helping IT service providers manage AI agents within their clients' businesses. The first product, 8os, is an operating system that allows these partners to govern the artificial intelligence agents. The second product, 8bot, provides employees of client businesses with a managed AI coworker that can be deployed and supervised through 8os. Both products were unveiled at Pax8's Beyond EMEA conference in Copenhagen.

Pax8's survey reveals that 90% of small businesses are currently using or experimenting with AI, but only 23% have a documented policy covering its use. Among those using AI, 71% have developed at least one tool, yet only 31% have a formal review or approval process in place. Moreover, 47% of surveyed business leaders admitted to finding unauthorized "shadow AI" in the past six months.

Pax8 aims to fill the governance gap in AI implementation by enabling partners to act as managed intelligence providers. The new operating system, 8os, is built on the marketplace used by more than 47,000 IT providers to sell software to approximately 800,000 small businesses. Each customer's memory, context, and usage are kept separate, allowing AI workers to become more useful over time.

Employees of client businesses will have access to 8bot, an AI assistant that handles everyday tasks and returns refined work for staff review before using it throughout their business. Resellers can offer 8bot as a packaged service under 8os governance, and Pax8 is promoting it as a solution that can be deployed and billed for within minutes.

The CEO, Scott Chasin, emphasized the changing role of small business technology partners in an AI-driven world. The limited early access to both products begins this week, with general availability expected early next year.