A Field Guide To A.I. Agents

Many of the world’s most popular – and useful – A.I. systems are dependent on A.I. agents. But, what are A.I. agents, exactly? What are A.I. agents used for? And, how do A.I. agents work, exactly?

Going over the answers to those questions – and a few more – will make it easier for you to use A.I. agents in your business, personal projects, and life, in general.

What Are A.I. Agents?

The Artificial Intelligence ecosystem is populated with all manner of A.I. tools, software programs, applications, and systems. 

Out of all the tools, software programs, applications, and systems that define this ecosystem, one of the most important is as follows: A.I. agents.

A.I agents are software programs that perform three primary functions:

1. Interact with the environment they reside within.
2. Collect data from their interactions with the environment that they reside within.
3. Use this data to perform tasks that allow them to achieve the goals you have given them.

Just as an example, if you run a restaurant that comes with a customer service contact center, you can have an A.I. agent run this contact center.

If a customer asks your A.I. agent a question, the agent can look at the documentation you developed for these interactions. By looking at this documentation, they can develop a unique answer to that customer’s query.

On the other hand, if an A.I. agent cannot develop an appropriate solution to that customer’s query about your restaurant, they can redirect your customer to an employee who may know the answer.

The above is just one example of what an A.I. agent can do.

What Are The Different Types Of A.I. Agents?

Many different A.I. agents are used in the A.I.-based applications we use daily. Out of all these A.I. agents, some of the most common are as follows:

1. A simple-reflex agent.
2. A hierarchical agent.
3. A goal-based agent.
4. A learning agent.
5. A multi-agent systems agent.
6. A model-based reflex agent.
7. A utility-based agent.
8. A computer-use agent.
9. A vision agent.

You can find a definition, for each one of the above, right below:

1. A simple-reflex agent works within a predefined rule set. And, when a simple-reflex agent encounters a particular trigger, it responds by executing a preset function.
2. A hierarchical agent is an agent that exists across multiple hierarchical levels. All of the agents within each level perform different functions, each one in service of a unified goal.
3. A goal-based agent is an agent that has a goal and, to achieve this goal, evaluates different actions that it can take. By evaluating these actions, a goal-based agent finds the best way to achieve its goal.
4. A learning agent uses experience and feedback to adapt and improve. And, by adapting/improving, learning agents enhance their performance, making it easier for them to achieve their goals.
5. A multi-agent systems agent is not one agent but, instead, a series of agents that collaborate or compete, in a shared environment, on multiple tasks. These tasks are often connected by a unified goal.
6. A model-based reflex agent is a simple-reflex agent that can build a model of its environment. This allows it to consider past actions, making it easier for it to respond to changing conditions within that environment.
7. A utility-based agent works towards a goal and, to achieve this goal, focuses on the tasks that comprise it. By focusing on these tasks, a utility-based agent can find the best solution, for each one.
8. A computer-use agent is an agent that can interact with specific applications on your computer. They do this in order to perform certain functions that rely on the software you have on your device.
9. A vision agent is an agent that can analyze pictures and other visual data. Analyzing this data allows them to find defects, make adjustments, and perform edits; among other things.

You can find one example, for each one of the A.I. agents we have outlined, right below:

1. A smart thermostat that turns on the AC when the temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius/95 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. An HVAC system that relies on several layers of automation and assessment, in order to make sure that each component of this HVAC system is working properly.
3. A warehouse management system that goes over the different paths its employees can take to retrieve packages and, in doing so, figures out the most efficient paths for each package.
4. An electricity management program that goes over someone’s electricity usage patterns and uses these patterns to come up with different ways to reduce electricity usage.
5. A warehouse robotics system that manages each robot’s movements, within the same warehouse, ensuring that each robot is taking the most efficient paths.
6. A smart home security system that relies on past periods of normal – and “safe” – activity, to make sure that there are no deviations from this state.
7. An autonomous vehicle that looks at the road, your destination, and the systems that comprise it, to determine the easiest, and most cost-efficient, way you can get to your destination.
8. A program that fills out PDF-based government paperwork for you, automatically, so that you do not need to fill it out manually. 
9. A tool that looks at the photographs you provide it and, in doing so, performs alterations, modifications, and adjustments that make it look more professional.

No matter your needs, there’s a very strong chance that, somewhere out there, is an A.I. agent that can help you.

What Are Some Of The Common Uses Of A.I. Agents?

You can use A.I. agents for nearly anything. And, as A.I. agents become more and more advanced, they will be able to perform more functions. Right now, though, these are some of the most common uses of A.I. agents:

1. Responding to customer service queries.
2. Analyzing large volumes of marketing data to determine key market insights.
3. Using patient data to develop an effective treatment plan.
4. Identifying suspicious transactions that suggest financial fraud/theft.
5. Screening job applicants’ resumes to see if they meet the requirements of a particular job.
6. Optimizing energy usage to improve the energy efficiency of a system, and reduce overall electricity usage.
7. Taking the information you provide and compiling it into a report that clarifies key insights.
8. Developing personalized movie recommendations based on recent viewing history.
9. Producing written social media posts that are optimized to meet certain parameters.
10. Assessing the performance of an employee and developing a performance improvement plan.

You can use A.I. agents to perform all of the above. But, that’s not all: A.I. agents can be used to perform a wide variety of other functions, and to achieve a multitude of different goals.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A.I. Agents?

Using A.I. agents offers an enormous wealth of benefits, depending on the goals you are trying to achieve. And, out of all these benefits, the following are some of the most notable:

1. You can use A.I. agents to automate time-consuming tasks, such as producing social media posts or analyzing large data sets; among many other possibilities
2. You can use A.I. agents to obtain insights, from data and information that you provide, that you may not have the ability to find on your own.
3. You can use A.I. agents to automate most of your customer service, allowing you to save money, while focusing on more important tasks/goals.
4. You can use A.I. agents to reduce the energy usage of your home, office, or nearly any other system; this can help you save money and make better use of the resources you have access to.
5. You can use A.I. agents to streamline your hiring process, making it a lot easier for you to find the best candidates very quickly and, then, to onboard them once they’re hired.
6. You can use A.I. agents to automate repetitive tasks – naming and organizing large groups of files, for example – so that you have more time/energy to focus on important work
7. You can use A.I. agents to provide 24/7 customer service, ensuring that, even if you don’t have any customer service agents available to help, your customers can still obtain the help they need.
8. You can use A.I. agents to give your customers personalized experiences that align with the preferences they have shared with you. This can make your product more special than what your competitors offer.

Outside of what has been clarified above, A.I. agents offer a wealth of other benefits. These benefits are largely dependent on the work you are doing and the goals that you have in mind

How Do A.I. Agents Work?

The exact answer to this question is dependent on the exact A.I. agent. Every A.I. agent tends to be slightly different, depending on the type of A.I. agent it is and, in turn, the goals that it is meant to achieve.

Even though the above is true, A.I. agents generally work by doing the following:

1. Gathering information that they receive from their environment. This could be data related to a particular system, text from a customer, a set of images, audio from a song; among many other inputs/modalities.
2. Processing the information that they receive from their environment. If they receive a customer query, for example, they can look at the text content and use that to formulate a response.
3. Assessing the information they receive using machine learning – among other possibilities – to figure out what they need to do to address this information and, in doing so, achieve their goals.
4. Executing the actions they are capable of engaging in, to achieve the goals they were meant for. If they are responding to a customer service query, for example, this could involve writing a response.
5. Using the information they have obtained, from this experience, to improve their feedback loop and abilities, making it easier for them to achieve their goals in a more efficient manner later on.

All of the functions outlined above allow A.I. agents to achieve their goals and improve their abilities overtime. By doing those two things, A.I. agents can better serve the needs they were meant to satisfy.

How Can A.I. Agents Be Used In Web3/Blockchain Systems?

The Web3/Blockchain ecosystem is making great use of A.I. agents. Some of the most notable – and, exciting – ways A.I. agents can be used for Web3/Blockchain systems are as follows:

1. You can use A.I. agents to automate crypto wallet trading.
2. You can use A.I. agents to track, and organize, data that is stored on a blockchain system.
3. You can use A.I. agents to automate cryptocurrency staking.
4. You can use A.I. agents to analyze the crypto market so that you can make better investment decisions.
5. You can use A.I. agents to look at sets of blockchain transaction data to develop accurate predictions.
6. You can use A.I. agents to monitor blockchain networks and, in doing so, remedy potential vulnerabilities.
7. You can use A.I. agents to automate the function of certain smart contracts.
8. You can use A.I. agents to detect potential fraud, making it easier for you to avoid costly business mistakes.
9. You can use A.I. agents to rebalance your DeFi portfolio on a 24/7 basis.
10. You can use A.I. agents to provide personalized experiences for the users who use your Web3 application.

Every single one of the above serves as a great use of A.I. agents in Web3/Blockchain systems. But, as Web3 and Blockchain systems grow and evolve, alongside A.I. agents, their applications will become even more advanced.

Conclusion

A.I. agents underlie some of the world’s most popular – and useful – A.I. tools. Being familiar with A.I. agents, and what they can do for you, makes it easier for you to use A.I. to achieve your goals.