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AI

A brief overview of AI

AI Agents

What are AI Agents?

AI agents are autonomous systems or programs designed to perceive their environment, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals. They operate independently or with minimal human intervention, using artificial intelligence techniques like machine learning, natural language processing, and reasoning to interact with their environment or users.

Key Characteristics of AI Agents

Key Characteristics of AI Agents

  1. Autonomy:

    • Operates without continuous human input.
    • Makes decisions independently to accomplish predefined tasks or goals.

  2. Goal-Oriented Behavior:

    • Works toward specific objectives using algorithms and logic to determine the best course of action.

  3. Environment Interaction:

    • Perceives its surroundings using sensors, data inputs, or APIs.
    • Takes actions that modify or respond to the environment.

  4. Adaptability and Learning:

    • Some AI agents improve their performance over time by learning from feedback or new data.
    • Techniques like reinforcement learning are often used.

  5. Decision-Making:

    • It uses AI models, predefined rules, or probabilistic methods to make decisions in real time.

Types of AI Agents

Types of AI Agents

  1. Reactive Agents:

    • Respond to immediate stimuli without considering history or future planning.
    • Example: A basic chatbot that answers pre-programmed FAQs.

  2. Deliberative Agents:

    • Plan actions based on goals and available data.
    • Example: A robot planning the best route to navigate a room.

  3. Hybrid Agents:

    • Combine reactive and deliberative capabilities to balance speed and efficiency.
    • Example: A self-driving car that reacts to obstacles while following a planned route.

  4. Collaborative Agents:

    • Work in groups or with humans to accomplish shared objectives.
    • Example: Multi-agent systems in logistics or gaming.

Resources

  

What are AI agents?

Source: Gutowska, A. (2024, July 3). What are AI agents? IBM.

What Are AI Agents? Here's how AI agents work, why people are jazzed about them, and what risks they hold 

Source: Caballero, R. D. (2024, November 19). What are AI agents? Here's how AI agents work, why people are jazzed about them, and what risks they hold. IEEE Spectrum.

Why Agents Are the Next Frontier of Generative AI

Source: Yee, L., Chui, M., Roberts, R., & Xu, S. (2024, July 24). Why agents are the next frontier of generative AI. McKinsey & Company.