Pax8 introduces 8os and 8bot to help partners govern AI

Pax8, a marketplace for cloud and AI services aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, introduced two offerings at its Beyond EMEA conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The products, 8os and 8bot, are intended to help managed intelligence providers oversee AI use across the small businesses they serve.

Adoption has outpaced oversight among small businesses. According to Pax8 SMB AI Pulse Reports, 90% of SMBs use or experiment with AI, yet 23% have a documented AI use policy, and nearly half have found shadow AI within their businesses. Of SMBs using AI, 71% have built at least one AI solution, but only 31% of those builders run a formal review or approval process.

8os is presented as the first operating system for the agentic workforce, built on Pax8's existing multi-tenant commerce, identity, and billing infrastructure. It places different agents, models, tools, and providers under one partner-controlled workforce, with client-specific memory supporting more relevant work over time. Usage and cost are tracked per user and per customer, and hard caps are used to stop runaway bills.

8bot is a packaged, managed AI coworker that partners can deploy for their clients' employees. It takes on everyday tasks and returns results that employees and teams can review, refine, and use. Partners manage deployment, governance, and support through 8os, and can offer the service across client employees as a repeatable model.

“AI is becoming a worker, and that changes what small businesses need from their technology partners,” said Scott Chasin, CEO of Pax8. Libby McIlhany, Chief Product Officer at Pax8, said, “Our partners have told us they want to deliver AI value without building a custom solution for every client.”

Limited early access to 8os and 8bot began this week, with general availability planned for early next year.