Human… or AI?
They couldn’t tell.
Artificial intelligence is witnessing a seismic shift with the rise of agentic AI – a revolutionary approach that empowers AI systems to perform complex, multi-step tasks autonomously. Unlike traditional models that focus on generating immediate, single-step outputs, agentic AI builds systems capable of handling intricate workflows in a human-like way. This approach has the potential to streamline operations, automate repetitive tasks, and elevate productivity within enterprises.
To use the example a second time, let’s say an agentic AI is tasked with writing a paper based on a prompt. It would follow a series of steps, like the ones I have outlined below:
- Understand the user prompt/task
- Determine if any specific research is needed to complete the task
- Write a draft of the paper
- Review the draft as a critic
- Determine what needs to be improved in the paper
- Perform additional research if necessary
- Write a new draft of the paper
- Review paper again
- Write final paper
One company, Adept, has been at the forefront of this shift. Rather than creating a general-purpose large language model (LLM) like those from OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic, Adept has focused on building specialized AI agents designed to work alongside human teams in real-world applications. These agents aim to deliver true agentic AI by autonomously handling complex tasks, driving what could be a transformative era for workplace productivity.
However, Adept faced a challenge. After raising about $64 million in April 2022 and another $350 million in February 2023, it still needed more funding to build a comprehensive, full-stack AI platform with a proprietary LLM. This funding gap placed Adept at a crossroads – should it focus on developing its LLM to rival giants like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI, or should it concentrate on refining its agentic AI capabilities?
This conundrum reflects a broader trend in the AI landscape. Companies today are finding themselves at a critical juncture as they decide whether to invest in proprietary technology or leverage existing advancements to build niche, highly effective tools. Adept’s path reflects a unique vision for AI that may diverge from traditional, permission-based models. For more on how this shift toward permissionless power influences the AI industry, check out our article, [A New Era of Permissionless Power].
Even more exciting is that the research leading to this point used less advanced AI available then. The industry is anxiously awaiting OpenAI’s release of its advanced Voice Mode, which is currently deployed to a select group of test users. This feature adds emotions, tone, and remarkably human-like natural conversation capabilities to OpenAI’s multi-modal LLM, GPT-4.0. Such advancements will make interactions with AI feel so natural and comfortable that we might forget we’re even communicating with an artificial entity.
This technology is poised to bridge a psychological gap, making us feel like we’ve formed a genuine bond with our AI “partners.” This level of integration, comfort, and relatability will redefine human-AI relationships, setting a new standard for what we expect from our digital companions.