Cause he can say he used AI and get a promotion and the company can put AI on the website and make stock price go up.

The difference is that algorithms have known inputs and “agent” implies a a greater level of adaptability to unforeseen inputs.

That sounds alright, but I'm having difficulty imagining a situation where a business wants to produce a quote with novel element types / parameterizations not yet seen before without a human hand in the loop.

I’m way out in assumption-land, but I’m guessing all quotes would be reviewed by humans, and the goal is to take the drudgery out of first drafts.

For that it would be fine if the AI took a stab at something novel like a faster than usual delivery timeline or higher than usual part tolerances. It might get the economics wrong, but just by including them it would be easier for a human to adjust.