In this episode of Uncanny Valley, Will Knight, Lauren Goode, and Michael Calore discuss AI agents, why many tech companies have been placing big bets on them, and what agents can do.
They define what an agent is, in terms of AI, and talk about some applications of the technology, such as Google Duplex.
They also discuss concerns about the development of AI agents and what the future of the technology may hold.
Lauren Goode mentions an experience with Google Duplex and how it tried, unsuccessfully, to make a reservation for her at a restaurant and kept trying and sending her notifications.
Will Knight talks about his experience with AI coding tools, specifically Claude, an agent that helps write code.
There is no clear definition of what an AI agent is, and companies can define it however they want.
Michael Calore shares his concerns about how AI agents could negatively affect the workforce and cause people to become too reliant on technology.
The hosts end the show with recommendations: Will Knight recommends the book The Evolution of Agency by sauces and Michael Calore recommends the New York Times piece “The Cost of Convenience in Applemeland”.
