Answer extracted from the Unprompted: Real AI in IC podcast — listen to the full episode below.
Which tool has made building AI agents significantly more accessible for internal communicators?
Glean has removed the need for internal communicators to rely on software engineers to build AI agents, connecting across company tools and platforms to draw on a wealth of organizational knowledge. By allowing agents to be built both manually through steps and via natural language commands, Glean has leveled the playing field—enabling communications professionals to create sophisticated tools without any coding background.
From Gatekeeping to Self-Service AI
Traditionally, building AI agents required technical expertise that internal communications teams simply didn't have. The barrier to entry was high: you needed developers, software engineers, or specialized AI knowledge to even attempt agent creation. This meant many valuable internal communications use cases never made it off the drawing board.
Glean changed that equation by removing technical prerequisites while maintaining powerful functionality. As Rebecca Lindsay explains in the episode, the ability to build agents through natural language is "massive" and "one of the most significant advantages for using AI in internal comms." The tool doesn't discriminate between a technical team member and a communications professional—both can create equally functional agents.
This democratization is critical because it aligns with the broader vision of AI in internal communications: giving employees tools to communicate better themselves, rather than centralizing all communication through traditional gatekeepers. When internal comms teams can rapidly prototype and deploy agents, they can respond to organizational needs at actual speed.
Two Pathways, Same Outcome
Glean's power lies in its flexibility. You can build agents either by specifying steps manually or by describing what you want in plain English. Neither approach requires coding knowledge. This dual pathway means teams can choose the method that fits their workflow—whether that's a step-by-step guided creation process or a more conversational approach using natural language.
This flexibility matters because internal communicators work in diverse contexts. Some teams may have very clear, structured processes they want to automate; others may need to iterate and experiment quickly. Glean accommodates both, removing the common objection that "we'd have to bring in a developer for this." A point detailed in this podcast is how quickly and independently teams can now move—something that was impossible before such tools existed.
"We want to be giving you the tools to do great comms yourself, and that is precisely what AI can enable us to do at scale."
Rebecca Lindsay — Internal Comms Manager at Hyper Exponential, a tech company where AI adoption is embedded across all roles. As part of her company's AI enablement squad, Rebecca has built multiple agents including tone-of-voice checkers, annual leave assistants, and emotionally intelligent communications tools—all without software engineering involvement—demonstrating how non-technical communicators can deliver sophisticated AI solutions at organizational scale.
To understand more about how Rebecca has implemented these agents in practice and the specific challenges she's solved, listen to the full episode, where she walks through her hands-on experience building agents from scratch.
Key takeaways
- Glean eliminates the technical barrier—internal communicators can build agents without software engineering skills.
- Agents can be created through manual steps or natural language, offering flexibility for different workflow preferences.
- Removing dependency on developers means internal comms teams can prototype, test, and deploy AI solutions independently and at speed.
- This accessibility directly enables the shift from internal comms as a service provider to internal comms as an enabler of self-service communication tools.
See also
How is AI fundamentally changing the role of internal communicators beyond just creating content?
Rebecca sees AI enabling internal communicators to shift from being 'post boxes' to giving people tools to do great communications themselves at scale, moving strategy beyond content production alone.
What is the annual leave assistant agent and how does it help employees manage time off?
The annual leave assistant asks users when they're going on leave and when returning, offering to draft both internal and external out-of-office messages automatically, saving time and ensuring consistent communication.
What is the role of layered data in building more effective internal communications strategies with AI?
Rebecca compiles a personal internal comms brain containing multiple data sources: internal comms survey results, employee satisfaction data, and event feedback, ensuring AI decisions are grounded in real organizational context.