01What is Hermes AI agent and how it works

Hermes AI agent is a self-improving, self-evolving AI coding agent that can learn and improve as it works. Unlike traditional coding agents, it doesn't just run tasks—it gets better the more you use it.

In this episode, Hermes beat OpenAI Codex in key speed benchmarks by a large margin, not a tiny one. This is important because speed directly affects cost: faster agents run more tasks on the same budget, while slower agents eat up tokens and give less output.

Hermes is structurally different from Codex or Claude Code, which don't improve in the same way. This makes it a significant contender for businesses using AI for client outreach, lead generation, and data pulling.

02Key features of Hermes: Speed and self-improvement

Hermes stands out with its self-improving capability. It can learn from each task it runs, making it more efficient over time. This is a major advantage over other agents that stay static.

  • Self-evolving: It improves as you use it.
  • Faster on real workflows: Benchmarks show it outperforms Codex on tasks that matter, not just developer tests.
  • Cost-effective: Faster agents mean more output for the same token budget.
  • Handles complex tasks: It can run tasks, write code, and manage workflows like a coding agent.

These features matter if you're running AI agents for lead follow-up or data extraction. The faster the agent, the more you get done without increasing costs.

03How to get started with Hermes AI agent

Getting started with Hermes is straightforward, though the episode doesn't give exact setup steps. To begin, you need to access Hermes from its research source and integrate it into your workflow.

  1. Find the Hermes agent from the research team that launched it.
  2. Set up an account or access point if required.
  3. Connect it to your existing tools or dashboard.
  4. Start with a simple task to test its speed and accuracy.
  5. Monitor its performance over a few days to see improvement.
  6. Gradually add more complex tasks as you get comfortable.

Remember, Hermes is early, so start with non-critical tasks to see how it performs before fully committing.

04Using Hermes for your business workflows

To use Hermes effectively, plug it into your automation stack. In the episode, Julian suggests an agent operating system that connects tools like Hermes and Claude Code. This way, you can switch or add agents without rebuilding everything.

For example, if you use Hermes for client outreach, it can handle follow-ups faster than before. Since it improves with each run, your outreach gets more efficient over time.

To integrate it:

  • Place Hermes in your dashboard as one of your pluggable agents.
  • Use it for tasks like lead generation or data pulling.
  • Compare its speed against your current agent.
  • Scale up as you see reliability.

This layered approach lets you benefit from Hermes without breaking your existing workflows.

05Results and comparisons: Hermes vs Codex

The key result is that Hermes beat Codex in speed benchmarks by a significant margin. Thousands of people are already publicly switching, according to the episode. Over 1700 posts in 24 hours on X reported performance drops with Codex—slower responses and longer task times.

This is more than a few complaints; it's a pattern. When tools degrade, users move. The migration to Claude Code and Hermes is happening now.

The benchmarks are early, but the signal is real. Hermes is consistently faster on tasks that matter, not just developer tests. This speed advantage translates to lower costs for businesses running many tasks.

06Tips, limits, and mistakes to avoid

Don't drop everything and switch to Hermes today. The episode advises watching it closely. The teams that catch shifts early get a head start, but you don't need to break your existing setup.

Avoid the mistake of treating any tool as permanent. Getting locked into one agent or platform is risky. Instead, build your workflow in layers so you can plug in new tools as they improve.

  • Don't ignore new tools because switching is painful.
  • Don't jump ship immediately and rebuild from scratch.
  • Use an agent operating system to plug in different tools.
  • Test new agents on small tasks first.
  • Monitor performance metrics like speed and cost.

Hermes is early, so expect changes. Keep your core workflows stable while experimenting.

07Who should use Hermes and why it matters

Hermes is for business owners and developers using AI for automation. If you rely on AI agents for client outreach, lead generation, or data pulling, speed directly affects your costs. Hermes's self-improving nature means it could get even better over time.

This matters because the AI tool landscape is moving fast. The agent you use today might not be the best in six months or even next month. By staying aware of tools like Hermes, you can stay ahead of the curve.

Even if you don't switch now, understanding Hermes helps you evaluate future options. The episode emphasizes that catching these shifts early gives you a competitive advantage.

08The bigger picture: AI agent race in 2026

This episode shows the rhythm of AI in 2026: tools rise, crack, and get replaced quickly. Codex was the big thing last month, but now Hermes is faster. This cycle used to take years; now it takes days or weeks.

Google DeepMind also dropped anti-gravity CLI, a free terminal-based coding agent. And Elon Musk is set to reveal a design for AI satellites, which could lower AI compute costs dramatically with free solar power and space cooling.

For you, the takeaway is to build your workflows in layers. Don't get locked into one tool. Use an agent operating system to plug in the best tool for each task.

This way, when something new like Hermes arrives, you can benefit without rebuilding everything.