I specialize in creating AI agents and have growing concerns about this industry’s future.
I’ve worked on developing AI systems for clients for quite some time, and while I still hold faith in the technology, I am becoming increasingly worried about the industry’s progression. The gap between the expectations communicated and the actual outcomes continues to widen.
Many so-called ‘AI agents’ are just advanced scripts
To be honest, most products labeled as ‘AI agents’ are essentially workflows enhanced with some AI features. While workflows are undoubtedly beneficial, branding them as ‘agents’ leads to misconceptions about their capabilities to think independently. I end up spending a significant amount of my time clarifying this for new clients.
Presentations seem polished, but reality can be chaotic
The impressive demos showcased at tech events work seamlessly in perfect conditions. However, when faced with real-world scenarios, these systems often falter. A single unusual input from a user or an erroneous AI response can derail everything. We are aiming to build trustworthy systems, but we are still struggling with fundamental reliability challenges that remain unaddressed.
The messaging shifts based on the audience
At times, we hear that AI will soon replace all human workers, while at other moments, when scrutiny arises, we’re told they’re merely ‘tools’ for data assistance. This inconsistent messaging leaves customers baffled and complicates straightforward discussions about what these systems can realistically achieve.
The actions of industry leaders don’t reflect the hype
What frustrates me the most is the constant movement of top AI researchers between companies for significant pay raises. If they genuinely believed they were on the brink of revolutionizing the world, would they be so quick to jump ship? Their behavior suggests a lack of conviction in their own ambitious claims.
We’re chasing solutions to non-existent problems
A considerable amount of funding is directed towards creating groundbreaking AI agents that tackle issues most organizations do not face. The most successful projects I have seen focus on mundane tasks, providing tangible time-saving benefits. However, ‘automating report summaries’ doesn’t grab media attention.
We must adopt a sensible approach
It’s not that AI automation lacks potential. However, we need to curb our tendency to overhype and focus on developing dependable solutions that genuinely assist users. If we don’t, we risk disappointing many and stifling enthusiasm for this technology before it can truly flourish.