What is the 'AI Agent' Tech Giants Are Competing to Launch?

As the holiday season approaches, particularly on December 16th, the tech world eagerly anticipates the unveiling of several pivotal advancements from OpenAI, an American startup renowned for its contributions to artificial intelligence (AI). The countdown has begun, not only for the regular upgrade of its GPT-4o but also for an anticipated innovation termed the "AI Agent," which is believed to hold the potential to significantly boost revenue streams.

In recent livestreams, OpenAI has inadvertently provided hints about these forthcoming developmentsOne of the models referred to as "ChatGPT ε" is speculated to likely be an iteration of the GPT-4.5o model, while a mysterious folder labeled “Agents” seems to suggest that something related to AI agents is on the horizon.

The race among tech giants for dominance in this field has intensifiedInvestment enthusiasts who closely track technological trends have recognized that the emphasis has shifted from mere upgrades of large models to profitable applications that can be directly charged to users

This pivot, which places greater value on practical implementations of AI, has seen companies scrambling to make headway in this competitive landscape.

Among the key players in this arena, the concept of the AI Agent stands outReports from early November indicated that OpenAI is gearing up to launch an "Operator" tool – a sophisticated agent capable of executing complex tasks – by January 2025. This news has stirred considerable excitement within the tech community.

In competitive parallel developments, industry stalwart Nvidia has introduced an AI tool named Perplexity, aimed at holiday shoppers, while Google has unveiled its first AI agent tool, dubbed Project Mariner, designed to assist users with tasks like booking flights and hotelsNotably, Salesforce, considered a frontrunner in the AI application space, has solidified partnerships with over 200 companies, including Accenture and FedEx, to integrate AI agents into their workflows.

Mark Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, described this trend as the "rise of digital labor" during a recent earnings call, signaling a major shift in how businesses might approach workforce management in the future.

Given this context, OpenAI faces the challenge of delivering something substantial, lest it be mocked for falling behind the curve post-launch

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Sam Altman, the leader of OpenAI, has explicitly stated that while models will continue to improve, the next groundbreaking evolution will likely come from the development of sophisticated AI agentsHe likened these agents to exceedingly intelligent and experienced colleagues capable of completing two-day or two-week-long tasks while maintaining communication with human supervisors to ensure exemplary results.

The universal focus on AI agents stems from their significant market appeal; they represent a product that companies can feasibly monetizeThe allure of AI lies in its ability to operate without fatigue or the need for breaks, thus compelling organizations to reconsider how they might replace human labor with AI solutions, provided the output is up to par.

Sarah Friar, OpenAI's CFO, recently remarked to the media regarding their readiness to introduce a subscription service priced at $2,000 per month

She highlighted that the idea of having a Ph.D.-level AI assistant capable of handling an array of tasks could justify such expense in certain circumstances.

Moreover, she pointed out that OpenAI might develop a pricing model based on the value users derive from AI in business contexts, laying the groundwork for a more nuanced approach to AI integration in professional settings.

So, what exactly constitutes an "AI agent"? This term might seem abstract and somewhat convoluted, largely due to its etymologyThe term "agents" in English has various meanings, such as "individuals who act on behalf of others," "tools and means for achieving results," or "authorized representatives." As Chinese tech companies align their strategies with this wave, they may opt for more relatable names, such as "AI Employees" or "AI Representatives."

In the tech vernacular, defining "AI agents" serves to differentiate this new paradigm from traditional AI chatbots, which typically exhibit a simple query-response mode and may even produce nonsensical answers

In contrast, AI agents are seen as software designed to tackle specific tasks, often requiring multiple steps and interfacing with various tools.

For example, booking an airfare entails an AI agent accessing various travel websites, evaluating flight options, and then processing payment upon user confirmationRegardless of individual interpretations of an AI agent's role, the overarching goal remains: to accomplish tasks with minimal human intervention.

Currently, the concept of AI agents is still in its formative stage, operating with more limitations than capabilitiesFred Havemeyer, the head of AI and software research at Macquarie's U.SSecurities Research division, emphasized that AI agents are likely not a singular, all-encompassing modelInstead, they will depend on a collection of models working together to perform complex tasksHe posited that the existing models on the market do not meet the operational standards required for "agent-level" responsibilities.

Havemeyer envisioned the most effective AI agents as a mix of various models complemented by an overarching supervisory layer that directs requests to the most adept models available

His aspiration is to eventually witness autonomous AI agents that could translate abstract goals into independently reasoned steps.

For startups in the AI sector, as well as businesses adopting AI, the prospect of a $2,000 monthly subscription for advanced functionality hinges on the feasibility of AI systems being independently operable.

As this technological revolution unfolds, the urgency for businesses and workers alike cannot be overstatedProfessionals in diverse sectors must now contemplate their future in light of forthcoming AI advancementsDario Amodei, co-founder of AI startup Anthropic, suggested that the introduction of AI agents might lead to enhanced compensatory structures for employees equipped with irreplaceable skills that AI cannot emulate.

Amodei asserted that even if AI outperforms humans across various tasks, certain complexities or exorbitant costs in specific sectors could still make human contributions indispensable