What are AI agents and why are they now so pervasive? – Computerworld
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Published on: 2024-12-05 16:00:00
Source: Microsoft: TPM 2.0 is a ‘non-negotiable’ requirement for Windows 11 – Computerworld
Introduction
Agentic AI operates in two key ways. First, it offers specialized agents capable of autonomously completing tasks across the open web, in mobile apps, or as an operating system. A specific type of agentic AI, called conversational web agents, functions much like chatbots. In this case, the agentic AI engages users through multimodal conversations, extending beyond simple text chats to accompany them as they navigate the open web or use apps, according to Larry Heck, a professor at Georgia Institute of Technology’s schools of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Interactive Computing.
“Unlike traditional virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant, which operate within restricted ecosystems, conversational web agents empower users to complete tasks freely across the open web and apps,” Heck said. “I suspect that AI agents will be prevalent in many arenas, but perhaps the most common uses will be through extensions to web search engines and traditional AI Virtual Assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.”
Other uses for agentic AI
A variety of tech companies, cloud providers, and others are developing their own agentic AI offerings, making strategic acquisitions, and increasingly licensing agentic AI technology from startups and hiring their employees rather than buying the companies outright for the tech. Investors have poured more than $2 billion into agentic AI startups in the past two years, focusing on companies that target the enterprise market, according to Deloitte.
Key Insights
Agentic AI operates in two key ways. First, it offers specialized agents capable of autonomously completing tasks across the open web, in mobile apps, or as an operating system. A specific type of agentic AI, called conversational web agents, functions much like chatbots. In this case, the agentic AI engages users through multimodal conversations, extending beyond simple text chats to accompany them as they navigate the open web or use apps, according to Larry Heck, a professor at Georgia Institute of Technology’s schools of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Interactive Computing.
“Unlike traditional virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant, which operate within restricted ecosystems, conversational web agents empower users to complete tasks freely across the open web and apps,” Heck said. “I suspect that AI agents will be prevalent in many arenas, but perhaps the most common uses will be through extensions to web search engines and traditional AI Virtual Assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.”
Other uses for agentic AI
A variety of tech companies, cloud providers, and others are developing their own agentic AI offerings, making strategic acquisitions, and increasingly licensing agentic AI technology from startups and hiring their employees rather than buying the companies outright for the tech. Investors have poured more than $2 billion into agentic AI startups in the past two years, focusing on companies that target the enterprise market, according to Deloitte.
Practical Tips
Agentic AI operates in two key ways. First, it offers specialized agents capable of autonomously completing tasks across the open web, in mobile apps, or as an operating system. A specific type of agentic AI, called conversational web agents, functions much like chatbots. In this case, the agentic AI engages users through multimodal conversations, extending beyond simple text chats to accompany them as they navigate the open web or use apps, according to Larry Heck, a professor at Georgia Institute of Technology’s schools of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Interactive Computing.
“Unlike traditional virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant, which operate within restricted ecosystems, conversational web agents empower users to complete tasks freely across the open web and apps,” Heck said. “I suspect that AI agents will be prevalent in many arenas, but perhaps the most common uses will be through extensions to web search engines and traditional AI Virtual Assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.”
Other uses for agentic AI
A variety of tech companies, cloud providers, and others are developing their own agentic AI offerings, making strategic acquisitions, and increasingly licensing agentic AI technology from startups and hiring their employees rather than buying the companies outright for the tech. Investors have poured more than $2 billion into agentic AI startups in the past two years, focusing on companies that target the enterprise market, according to Deloitte.