AI Agent and my take on it
The last two weeks, I spent quite some time browsing through technology news. One topic that caught my attention was AI Agents. Funny how they're called Agents, just like in The Matrix.
Huyen Chip explains the concept and definition of AI-powered Agents very well. She states: "An agent is characterized by the environment it operates in and the set of actions it can perform." (https://huyenchip.com/2025/01/07/agents.html)
Basically, you could build your own ChatGPT by equipping your AI Agent with specific tools and a chat-based LLM model. This enables highly customizable automation tasks. Building on top of existing infrastructure is always a clever move.
Currently, these agents can access many tools via API, such as Telegram chat, WhatsApp, Slack messages, and even Gmail accounts. I can see many people granting access for tasks like summarizing all unread emails and auto-generating email replies with the support of an LLM model, all through a single chat or voice command.
My simple take on this is that this is a golden opportunity for generalists—people with some knowledge or experience across a variety of fields. They may not be deeply specialized in anything, but they can combine their knowledge with the intelligence of AI to build successful businesses. With the current capabilities of AI Agents and LLM models, the possibilities for innovation are immense.
Now, I’m not scared that AI will replace me, but I am concerned that people who can apply AI effectively as a productivity tool will replace everyone else. In business, when everyone has access to the same AI power, success will come down to how you design your procedures and operational processes. This will give a distinct advantage over companies that rely solely on AI.