Hey everyone and welcome back for another deep dive.
Today we are tackling those digital assistants
that are suddenly everywhere, AI agents.
You're probably hearing a lot about how these AI agents
can control browsers and scrape data
and even write like a human.
But what does that really mean?
What does it mean for you?
Well, get ready because we dug us to some research
on two very specific agents
that are really changing what's possible.
Computer agent and chat LLM.
And as always, we're gonna break it all down
so you get all the key insights
without having to read those dense research papers yourself.
You know, one of the things that really fascinates me
about these agents is how they're really breaking free
from those simple commands.
Like they're not just following instructions,
they're actually interacting with the digital world
in a much more sophisticated way.
So less like a chat bot and more like a digital intern
but like with a super brain.
That's a great analogy.
Yeah, yeah, they can handle like surprisingly complex tasks.
Things that, you know, honestly,
we never thought AI could do before.
All right, color me intrigued.
So let's start with this computer agent.
What is it that makes it so special?
Okay, so computer agent,
it's all about giving AI the power to control a web browser.
Okay.
But there's a really important security feature here.
It all happens within a virtual environment.
Kind of like a secure sandbox.
You know?
So it's like its own little digital world
where the AI can run wild without like messing with my files.
Exactly, exactly.
It keeps your actual computer and your files safe.
So that should definitely ease your mind a bit.
Okay, that does, that does.
But what can it actually do in this virtual space?
Like what are we talking about here?
You know, think about it like this.
You could ask computer agent
to go out and find a specific product online.
Okay.
And then not only find it,
but like compare prices from different websites.
Okay.
And then take all that and generate a report
with the findings, all without you doing a single thing.
Wait, so it's not just browsing,
it's like analyzing information
and like putting together reports.
That's pretty amazing.
Exactly.
And what's really interesting
is the research is showing that the content
that it generates is often like indistinguishable
from human written text.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
One study even found that computer agent
was able to write an entire blog post
that fooled like 80% of human readers.
No way.
Are you serious?
Yeah.
So like I could ask it to write a blog post for me
and people would think I wrote it.
Potentially, yes.
And it can even go beyond that.
It can even tackle coding tasks.
Wait, coding.
You mean like actually writing computer programs?
Absolutely.
You know, imagine you need,
let's say like a simple web tool to,
I don't know, maybe track your expenses or something.
Okay.
You can tell computer agent to go to a coding platform,
tell it the requirements,
and then let it generate the code for you.
That's wild.
It's like having this AI software developer on call 24-7.
Exactly, exactly.
Okay, but this is starting to sound
a little too good to be true, right?
Like what's the catch?
Well, you know, with any technology,
there are definitely potential risks.
You know, security and privacy are obviously top of mind
when you're letting an AI kind of control a browser.
Yeah, of course.
But that's where this whole virtual environment thing
comes in.
By containing the AI within its own little sandbox,
the risks to your personal data are, you know,
they're minimized.
So you're saying it's okay to let AI play
in its own playground as long as it doesn't,
you know, break into my house.
Exactly.
It's all about striking that balance between,
you know, really using the power of AI,
but also making sure that it's being used safely.
That makes sense.
Okay, so we've got this computer agent
that can browse, analyze, write, and even code.
Is there anything else?
Well, you know, what's really amazing is
when you look at the research into like future capabilities,
Okay.
They're talking about multimodal agents.
Multimodal.
Agents that can analyze not just text,
but images, audio, video.
Oh, wow.
So like imagine you could give an AI a video
and you could be like, hey, summarize the key points for me
or create a transcript or even generate different versions
of this video edited for, you know, different audiences.
Okay, now that is some,
that is straight out of a sci-fi movie.
I know.
How close are we to this kind of technology?
It's closer than you might think.
Really?
Companies like, you know, Apple and Meta,
they're already investing a ton
into developing multimodal AI.
I mean, the pace of innovation in this field is incredible.
So what you're saying is that we could be looking
at a future where AI is seamlessly interacting
with all forms of digital content.
Yeah, not just text.
Wow, that's pretty wild.
It really has the potential to change
how we consume and process information.
But before we get too carried away with future stuff,
let's talk about another fascinating AI agent, chat LLM.
Okay, chat LLM, bring it on.
What makes this one different from computer agent?
Well, instead of controlling a browser,
chat LLM is all about creating specialized AI agents.
So for very specific tasks.
So it's like having like a team of AI experts
each with their own like special set of skills.
That's a great way to think about it.
Okay.
Like imagine having an AI agent
that just handles all your emails.
Okay.
Another one that summarizes all those news articles.
Okay.
Another one that helps you manage your finances.
I mean, the possibilities are endless.
Now you're speaking my language
because that sounds amazing.
Can you give me like some specific examples
of how these specialized AI agents would work in real life?
Like how would I actually use that?
Sure.
Okay, let's say you're drowning in emails, right?
Oh, tell me about it.
I feel you.
So you could create an email agent.
Its job would be to read through all your emails,
filter out that span, prioritize the important messages,
and even draft responses, like in your own style.
Wait a minute, hold on, hold on.
An AI that could write my emails for me, sign me up.
I am so bad at emails.
So that would be a dream come true.
What other kinds of agents could you create?
Let's say you're someone who needs to stay up to date
on all the industry news,
but you don't have time to read every single article.
Yeah, that's me for sure.
Right.
So you could create a news agent
that basically scours the web,
filters out all the irrelevant stuff,
and just gives you concise summaries
and those key takeaways.
That would be amazing.
I feel like I spend half my life
just like trying to figure out what's going on in the world.
I know, right?
You're just trying to get that signal out of all the noise.
Exactly, exactly.
And the beauty of this is that it would be tailored
to what I actually care about.
Exactly.
And because these are powered
by those really advanced language models,
they can handle those complex tasks
that require actual understanding,
not just like mindlessly following a script.
Okay, I'm sold.
This chat LLM thing sounds, it sounds incredible,
but how does it know which AI brain to use for each task?
Like how does it know which one to pick?
Well, the secret sauce is its ability to integrate
with multiple large language models.
So think of it as like having access
to this whole library of different AI brains,
each with its own specialties.
So basically, I get to pick and choose
which brain is best for the job.
That's right, that's right.
It's all about finding that perfect match
between what the AI can do and what you need done.
And the cool part is you can even fine tune
the agent's behavior and the output
based on your own preferences.
This is getting deep, man.
Both of these, computer agent and chat LLM,
they just seem to be like pushing the boundaries
of what we thought was possible.
Where do you see this going in the near future,
like in the next six months to a year?
It's really hard to say for sure
because everything's moving so fast,
but I think it's pretty safe to say
that these AI agents are only gonna get more powerful,
more versatile, and more integrated into our lives.
Okay, so even smarter, even more capable AI,
that's exciting and a little bit intimidating, to be honest.
It is, it is.
It's a lot to wrap your head around.
But the important thing to remember
is that we have the power to shape
how this technology develops, right,
and how it gets used.
So it's not about being afraid of the AI,
it's about understanding it and using it responsibly.
Exactly.
Okay, before we go any further though,
I wanna kinda bring it back down to Earth for a second
and talk about some real world applications.
Like how are these AI agents being used right now
to make our lives easier and to be more productive?
Well, one area where AI agents
are already making a huge impact is in browser automation.
So think about all those repetitive tasks you do online,
filling out forms, downloading files,
copying and pasting data.
An AI agent can handle all that for you.
It can free up so much of your time and mental energy
for the more important stuff.
Dude, that sounds like a dream,
especially for someone like me
who spends way too much time doing mindless things online.
Can you give me like a specific example?
How would this actually work?
Sure, let's say you're a freelancer, right?
And you need to keep track of all your income
and expenses for taxes.
Ugh, yeah.
I know, not the fun part.
But you could create an AI agent
that automatically logs into your bank account,
downloads your transaction history,
and then even like categorizes each transaction.
So that way when tax season rolls around,
you're not scrambling to get everything organized.
Okay, that would be a lifesaver.
I am necorious for putting that stuff off
until the very last minute.
What other things could you use browser automation for?
Well, another one is lead generation.
Okay.
In those teams, they often spend hours and hours
searching for potential customers.
Yeah.
And an AI agent could automate that whole process.
Really?
Identifying prospects based on certain criteria
and compiling all their contact info.
So it's like having a digital assistant
who's always working in the background,
finding those opportunities for me.
That's pretty amazing.
It is, and it's not just about saving you time.
It's about eliminating human error.
An AI agent will do those tasks with perfect precision
every single time.
So you know your data is accurate.
Yeah, that's huge when you're dealing
with a lot of information.
Okay, so browser automation is great.
What else can these AI agents do?
Another area where AI agents are really good
is data scraping.
So basically extracting data from websites.
Now I know that sounds a little bit shady.
Yeah, yeah.
But it can be used for legitimate purposes.
Okay, like what, like how would you use that ethically?
Well, let's say you're doing market research.
So you're about to launch a new product
and you want to understand what customers think
of your competitors.
Okay, yeah.
You could go to each of their websites
and read all the customer's reviews,
but I mean, who has time for that?
Yeah, that's super time consuming.
Right, and not to mention it's pretty tedious
and maybe even biased.
But with an AI agent, you could automate that process.
You can go to all those websites, grab the data,
and put it all into a nice report for you.
So I can get a real time view of what people are saying
without spending hours and hours online.
Yeah, exactly.
And because it's an AI doing the work,
the data is objective and unbiased.
That's a huge plus.
Okay, so browser automation, data scraping,
those are both super impressive.
What else can these AI agents do?
Well, one area that's getting a lot of buzz these days
is content creation.
AI writing, blog posts, and articles.
Yeah, I've heard about that.
Can AI really write as well as a human?
It might surprise you, but the quality
of AI generated content is, it's really improving fast.
Wow.
I mean, remember those agents we were talking about earlier?
Yeah.
They can create text that sounds so human-like
that sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.
Oh, wow.
So how would an AI agent actually help
with content creation?
Okay, imagine you need to write a blog post on,
you know, I don't know, let's say a new marketing trend
or something.
You could spend hours researching and writing
or you could just have an AI agent
do most of that work for you.
Wait, so you're suggesting I just let
like a robot write my blog post?
Not exactly.
Think of it more like a collaboration.
You know, you still give the AI some guidance and input,
but it can handle the heavy lifting.
Like what kind of guidance are we talking about here?
Well, you could give the AI an outline,
maybe some key talking points,
or even just a list of relevant keywords.
And then it takes that and turns it
into an actual blog post.
Yeah, it does the research, gathers all the information,
and structures it all into something
that's readable and engaging.
That is wild.
So it's like having like an AI writing partner
that can help me research, help me overcome,
write my blog, and even suggest different ways
to structure my content.
Exactly, and it's not just for blog posts.
I mean, these agents can help with reports, articles,
marketing copy, even social media posts.
Okay, now I'm seeing the potential here.
It's like having a whole content team at my disposal.
It really is, and it can free you up to, you know,
focus on the more strategic parts of content creation.
You know, like coming up with catchy headlines
and crafting your unique brand voice.
Yeah, yeah, that's the fun stuff.
Okay, what about coding?
We talked about computer agent being able to generate code.
Can you give us some examples of how that might be useful?
Sure, let's say you're a web developer,
and you need to make like a simple contact form
for a website.
Instead of, you know, coding that from scratch,
you could tell an AI agent to generate it for you.
So it's like having like a little coding assistant
that handles those boring tasks that nobody wants to do.
Yeah.
That's cool.
Yeah, exactly.
And it could be a really good learning tool
for, you know, new coders.
They could look at the AI-generated code
and kind of get a feel for, you know,
the best practices and different coding styles.
Oh, that's a good idea.
Yeah, and what's really exciting is that these AI agents,
they're not just limited to those simple coding tasks.
We're starting to see agents that can generate
much more complex code.
Things like whole web applications.
Okay, that is impressive.
So it's not just about automating
those boring tasks anymore.
It's about giving developers the tools
to create more complex stuff faster and more efficiently.
Exactly.
And as the technology keeps getting better,
I think we'll just see more and more uses for it
in the software world.
Okay, so we've covered browser automation,
data scraping, content creation, coding.
What else is out there?
What other exciting applications are there
for these AI agents?
Oh, don't forget about email management.
This is where AI agents can really shine.
Yeah.
Imagine an agent that could, you know,
go through your inbox, pick out the important emails,
even draft responses for you.
Hold on, hold on.
An AI that could write my emails for me?
That sounds a little risky.
I don't want to accidentally offend somebody with, you know,
a poorly worded AI generated email.
No, it's not about, you know,
replacing human interaction altogether.
It's about assisting you and streamlining the process.
For example, an AI agent could, you know,
analyze an email and suggest different responses for you.
So it's like having an AI writing assistant
that helps me craft really good emails.
Exactly.
And it could also, you know,
prioritize your inbox for you
so you don't miss those important messages.
Okay, that's pretty appealing
because my inbox is, it's a disaster.
Yeah, I think a lot of people can relate to that.
And this kind of AI powered email management
could really help reduce stress and make you more productive.
Oh man.
So you're telling me I could actually get to inbox zero?
It's possible, yeah, with the right AI agent.
That would be amazing.
Okay, what about news aggregation?
I know we talked about that a little bit before,
but I'd love to hear more about how AI agents can,
you know, help me stay up to date on the news
without feeling completely overwhelmed.
Well, this is another area
where AI agents can really make a difference.
They can go out, find relevant news articles,
filter out all the noise,
and then give you just the important parts,
like those concise summaries and key takeaways.
So no more endless scrolling through news feeds
or trying to, you know,
decipher those really complicated articles.
Yeah, the AI agent does the heavy lifting for you
and gives you the information you need
in a way that's easy to understand.
And you can even tell the agent to focus
on certain topics or industries
or even, you know, specific publications.
So it's like I could have my own personalized news feed
curated by AI.
That's pretty cool.
It is.
And it can also help you find new sources
of information and perspectives
that you might not have found on your own.
This is all really fascinating.
We've talked about so many different applications
from, you know, browser automation
and data scraping to content creation
and even email management.
And I'm really curious to hear more
about how this could impact the workforce.
Yeah, that's a big one.
But I think we're gonna have to save that for next time.
Yeah, we'll definitely have to dive into that.
But I think we've given our listeners
a lot to think about for now.
We've explored all these incredible things
that AI agents can do.
We've talked about all the different applications.
And we've even glimpsed into the future
of this really transformative technology.
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty energized.
Yeah, it's an exciting time, that's for sure.
Okay, that's all for part one of this deep dive.
We'll be back after a quick break
to explore how AI agents could impact the workforce.
And we'll also be diving into some of those
philosophical and ethical implications
of this technology that's evolving so quickly.
Don't go anywhere.
Welcome back.
Before the break, we were talking about
all those amazing things these AI agents can do already.
But the really mind blowing part
is how this technology is gonna change the future of work.
Yeah, that's what I'm really curious about.
I mean, it's easy to imagine these agents
just taking over people's jobs,
like leading to mass unemployment.
Is that a real concern?
It's a valid question for sure,
and one that's caused a lot of debate.
But I think it's more nuanced
than just robots are gonna steal our jobs.
Okay, so it's not just a simple, good or bad situation.
Exactly, the research is showing that, yeah,
these AI agents will probably automate a lot of the tasks
that humans are doing right now.
Like think about data entry or scheduling
or basic reporting, those kinds of repetitive jobs.
Yeah, okay, that makes sense.
So what happens to the people in those jobs then?
Well, here's where things get interesting.
AI isn't just about replacing humans.
It's also about augmenting our capabilities.
Augmenting, meaning it makes us better at our jobs.
Exactly, so imagine you're, let's say, a marketing manager.
Okay.
Right now, you're probably spending a lot of time
gathering data, analyzing trends, and creating reports.
Yeah, a lot of reports.
But what if an AI agent could just handle all of that for you?
Oh man, that would free up so much of my time.
But then what would I do with all that extra time?
Well, you could focus on the higher level stuff,
you know, the more strategic stuff,
like developing those really creative campaigns,
building relationships with clients, mentoring your team.
So instead of being replaced, I actually become more valuable
because I can use the AI to do all the part work.
Exactly, it's about humans and machines working together.
Each playing to their strengths.
Okay, that's a much more optimistic outlook
than just robots taking over.
But wouldn't this still require a lot of retraining
and adaptation for people?
Absolutely, this whole transition is gonna require us
to really invest in education and skills development.
We need to give people the knowledge and tools
to really succeed in this new AI-powered workplace.
So it's not just about learning how to use
a specific AI agent, it's about developing
a whole new set of skills.
Right, like critical making, problem solving,
creativity, adaptability.
These are the skills that are gonna be in really high demand
as AI starts taking on more of those routine tasks.
That makes a lot of sense.
So it's not just about learning how to code,
it's almost like becoming more human.
That's a great way to put it.
As AI handles more of that routine work,
we'll have the opportunity to really focus
on what makes us uniquely human, our creativity,
our empathy, our ability to connect with each other.
That's a good point, it's a very hopeful message,
but it also brings up some ethical questions.
If AI is making decisions that impact people's lives,
how do we ensure fairness and accountability?
Yeah, that's a really important question.
We need to develop ethical frameworks
and guidelines for AI.
We need to be sure that these systems are transparent
and unbiased and that they're accountable
to human oversight.
So it's not just about the technology itself,
it's about the values that we build into it.
Exactly, we have to be very careful
about the kind of future we're creating with AI.
It's a really powerful tool.
And it's up to us to use it for good.
Well said.
Okay, so we've talked about the impact on jobs
and the need for ethics,
but what about the bigger picture?
How might these AI agents change society as a whole?
I mean, that's a big question
and it's tough to say for sure,
but we can make some guesses
based on what we're seeing already.
All right, let's speculate.
What are some of the potential societal shifts
we might see as these agents become more common?
Well, one possibility is a change
in how we think about work.
If AI can automate a lot of those tasks
that define our jobs right now,
we might need to rethink our definition of work altogether.
That's interesting.
So what would replace work as the focus of our lives?
Well, some people are saying
that we'll see a rise in leisure and creative pursuits.
Imagine like a world where people just have more free time
to pursue their passions,
to connect with their communities,
and just to enjoy life.
That sounds amazing, but is that really realistic?
I mean, how would people support themselves
if traditional jobs are disappearing?
That's the tricky part.
We might see a shift towards new economic models,
like universal basic income,
or maybe even a shorter work week.
So like a fundamental shift in how we structure society?
It's possible, yeah.
And it brings up a lot of questions
about the role of government, the nature of work,
and even the meaning of life.
Okay, now my head is spinning.
These are big questions.
I know, it's a lot to think about,
but I think these are conversations
that we need to be having.
The future isn't set in stone.
We have the power to shape it.
And the more we understand about AI,
the better prepared we'll be to make the right choices.
That's a great point.
Well, we've talked about the impact on jobs, on ethics,
even on society as a whole,
but I wanna bring it back to our listener for a minute.
What does all this mean for them?
How can they get ready for this future with AI everywhere?
I think, first of all, just stay informed.
Read about AI.
Try out different AI tools.
Stay up to date on what's happening.
So be curious and keep learning.
Exactly.
The world of AI is changing so fast,
so the people who are willing to learn and adapt,
they're gonna be in the best position to thrive.
Okay, and what about skills?
What specific skills should our listener
focus on developing to stay ahead of the curve?
I mean, those skills we were talking about earlier,
critical thinking, problem solving,
creativity, and adaptability.
These are the human skills that machines can't replicate.
So again, it's not just about learning metacode.
It's about becoming a more well-rounded, adaptable person.
Exactly.
And don't be afraid to experiment with AI tools.
The more you use them,
the better you'll understand what they can and can't do.
That's great advice.
So embrace curiosity, focus on those human skills,
and don't be afraid to try things out, anything else.
You know, I think the most important thing to remember
is that AI is a tool.
It's not a replacement for human ingenuity
or empathy or connection.
Use it wisely, and it can really help you do amazing things,
but never forget your own humanity.
That's a part of a message.
I think we've covered so much ground in this deep dive,
but I feel like we've only just scratched
the surface of this topic.
I agree.
There's still so much to explore.
Well, I think we've given our listeners
a lot to think about for now.
You know, we've explored how AI agents
might impact the workforce.
We've talked about the ethical stuff,
and we've even thought about the future of society
in a world with AI.
But before we wrap up, I want to go back to something
that really stuck with me during our conversation.
It's that idea that AI, you know,
while it's super powerful and it's changing everything,
it's ultimately a tool that we control.
And it's up to us to decide how it develops
and how it's used.
And we have a responsibility to make sure
that it's used for good, that it makes our lives better,
and that it helps us create a better future for ourselves
and for future generations.
Yeah, I love that.
That's a really important message.
And one that I hope our listeners will really take to heart.
Me too.
Okay, this concludes our deep dive
into the world of AI agents.
We've explored what they can do.
We've talked about how they're being used,
and we've even thought about how they might impact
the workforce, ethics, and society in general.
It's been a really thought-provoking conversation.
Yeah, it has.
And I hope our listeners have come away
with a better understanding of this rapidly changing field
and a sense of cautious optimism about the future.
Me too.
And to our listeners, I leave you with this final thought.
What repetitive task would you hand off to an AI agent?
What would you do with all that extra time and energy?
I mean, think about it.
Possibilities are really endless.
Until next time, keep exploring.
Keep asking those tough questions and keep learning.
We've talked a lot about the practical stuff,
like how to use these AI agents and what they can do.
But this whole conversation has really got me thinking about
the bigger picture.
What does it even mean to work, to be human,
when machines can do so much?
Yeah, that's a really good point.
It's easy to focus on the day-to-day uses of AI,
but we do need to think about how these changes
are going to shape our whole understanding of what
it means to be human.
Right.
If AI can write blog posts and generate code
and even manage our emails, what's left for us?
What makes us different?
That's a question philosophers have been asking for a long time.
I bet.
Some say that AI is going to free us
from all the boring parts of work
so we can focus on more meaningful things,
like creativity and relationships.
That sounds pretty amazing, like a world where we're not
constantly stressed and working all the time.
But wouldn't that mean we'd have to completely change
how our society works?
I mean, how would we make a living if nobody has a job?
That's the big question.
Some people think we might have to move to a universal basic
income, or maybe everyone just works fewer hours.
Others think that new jobs will pop up
that we can't even imagine right now.
It's wild to think about all those possibilities.
But part of me also worries that we might become
too dependent on AI.
What if we lose some of our own abilities
if we just let means do all the thinking for us?
Yeah, I get that.
If we let AI decide everything for us,
from what we eat to what career we choose,
we could end up being just passive bystanders
in our own lives.
Right, it's not just about AI taking our jobs,
it's about us staying in control,
being able to make our own choices.
Exactly, we have to find that balance.
Using AI to make our lives better,
but not letting it take over completely.
I think that's a really important point,
and it shows why it's so crucial for us
to learn about AI and to understand how it works.
We can't just ignore it and hope for the best.
We need to be part of the conversation
about how it's developed and used.
Absolutely, it's time to move past all the hype
and the fear and have real discussions
about AI's role in our lives.
Like, what values do we want these AI systems to reflect?
What kind of future do we want to build?
Not just for ourselves, but for everyone.
Those are great questions, and it all comes back to this.
AI isn't some mysterious force outside of our control.
We're creating it through our choices
and through the way we use it.
Right, we have the power to steer AI in the right direction,
to use it to benefit humanity.
Well said.
Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today.
We've talked about what AI agents are, what they can do,
and how they might change the workforce, ethics,
and even the whole of society.
It's been a fantastic discussion,
and I hope our listeners have learned a lot,
and that they're feeling excited about the future,
even if it's a little uncertain.
Me too.
To everyone listening, keep learning about AI,
keep asking those tough questions,
and don't be afraid to get involved.
The future is ours to create.
And until next time, keep learning, keep exploring,
and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible.