AI agents: the next frontier in business innovation
AI agents are making waves across the tech landscape, frequently highlighted in news articles, blogs, and discussions as the next step in AI evolution. While the concept isn't entirely new — similar capabilities have existed under different names, some now obsolete — the current momentum marks a significant shift. In this blog post, our CTO, Tero Tapanainen, explores the future trajectory of AI agents. For a foundational understanding, refer to our previous article: "The Rise of AI Agents: From Simple Tasks to Autonomy."
The evolution of LLM and business integration
Initially, Large Language Models (LLMs) gained traction through basic chat functionalities and use cases that enhanced everyday personal tasks. As the initial excitement around simple chat features began to wane, the focus shifted towards integrating LLM capabilities into business applications.
Microsoft Copilot has emerged as a pioneer, merging LLM technology with white-collar work. It facilitates the discovery, generation, and summarization of corporate knowledge by accessing data within Microsoft Graph, primarily involving files in Teams and SharePoint. However, the real demand for AI agents lies within business systems like Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, or IFS. As Tero notes, "This is where the most pressing need for agents exists."
Agents: the cornerstone of business process automation
AI agents are now pivotal in the LLM domain, enhancing and automating business processes. An agent can be defined as a capability to execute specific tasks, either driven by a person or autonomously. Agents are most effective when focused on a single task, necessitating the execution of multiple agents in a specific sequence to accomplish more complex tasks.
This is where orchestration becomes crucial. Tero emphasizes, “Orchestration is essential to harness the full potential of the agent ecosystem. Agents are registered as capabilities within the orchestrator. When tasked via chat or activity, the orchestrator translates your request into actions, matches these actions to the agent capabilities, and initiates execution.”
Tero gives us an example from the factory floor:
You are working when a nearby machine signals a malfunction. You approach the machine, use your phone to capture a few images of it along with the error code, and request assistance from your AI business agent. The AI agent quickly identifies the specific machine from the photos, examines all relevant technical documentation to diagnose the issue and determine the necessary parts for repair. It then assesses spare part availability and transportation times from known suppliers, seeking your approval to proceed with ordering the replacement part.
He further explains, “There are numerous examples of single agents handling individual process parts or tasks. While this is effective, to truly leverage the power of agents, a multitude is required. The greater the number of capabilities 'registered' in orchestration, the more power your business wields.”
Agents as catalysts for business interconnectivity
Beyond internal business performance, Tero emphasizes another dimension of AI agents: their potential to serve as APIs or contracts for data and action exchange between businesses. AI is already transforming user interfaces and will inevitably reshape business operations. In the future, your company might deploy agents interconnected with millions of others through global orchestrations.
He illustrates this with a vision of the future:
Imagine sitting in your car and wanting to order a new pair of jeans from your favorite brand. You could simply instruct your car, 'Order me a new pair of jeans like the ones I'm wearing.' Your personal agents, perhaps on your phone, would identify the jeans you own and are currently wearing. They would then contact a commercial orchestrator encompassing all major jeans retailers in your area, find the best deal, and relay the information back to your personal agents, requiring only your confirmation.
The future holds limitless possibilities, with agents at the forefront of this transformation.
Embrace the future of AI agents with Fellowmind
As AI agents continue to revolutionize business processes, the potential for innovation and efficiency is boundless. At Fellowmind, we are committed to helping businesses harness the power of AI agents to drive transformation and success. Join us on this exciting journey to integrate AI into your operations and unlock new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Contact us today to discover how we can support your digital transformation journey.
Get in touch!
Tero Tapanainen
CTO
Fellowmind Finland
tero.tapanainen@fellowmind.fi
