Deel opens Akai, its internal AI agent platform, to ops teams globally

Deel has launched Akai, an AI-driven agent platform originally built to run its own internal operations, and is now offering it externally to other companies. The system uses a connected network of AI agents to learn and execute end-to-end workflows across finance, tax, treasury, benefits, HR and other back-office functions, operating on top of portals, government systems and local payroll tools where traditional integrations often fall short. According to Deel, Akai is already handling more than 100,000 cases per month, saving over 91,000 hours of manual work monthly, automating over 8,000 hours of payment processing, and cutting reconciliation processes from more than 20 days down to minutes. The platform can process documents and datasets, work across multiple payment methods, spin up virtual cards for payments, and keeps full logs and human review for sensitive workflows like compliance filings, payroll and payments.

Akai is positioned as an operations-focused automation product rather than a developer tool, targeting teams that manage high-volume, repetitive workflows across fragmented systems, especially in areas such as cross-border payments, tax and regulatory filings, logistics, supply chain administration and benefits operations. Users can either walk the system through a workflow once or describe it in plain language, after which Akai maps the steps, sets up connectors and deploys agents, with most teams expected to get initial agents running within hours instead of months. Deel emphasizes that no developers or IT tickets are required, as operations staff are intended to build and own their automations directly, while Akai remains auditable and keeps humans in the loop. The product is being rolled out through an early access program that offers hands-on support, dedicated onboarding and special pricing to a select group of operations teams before wider general availability.