The ultimate goal of AI development is not the intelligent agent, but rather the human-machine environment system agent. “Human-machine environment system agent” is a new concept that reveals a grander and more complex objective of artificial intelligence development—not just a single intelligent agent (like an AI system), but a more intricate system that includes not only the intelligent agents (the AI itself) but also the surrounding environment (including humans, biological entities, the physical world, data systems, etc.). This system will encompass deep collaboration and interaction between humans, machines, and the environment, ultimately forming a holistic intelligent system.1. Interaction Between Intelligent Agents and Environment
Current artificial intelligence technologies often focus on developing standalone intelligent agents that can exhibit high capabilities in specific tasks, such as language understanding, image recognition, or autonomous driving. However, these intelligent agents are often isolated or serve a specific domain or task. When we discuss the “human-machine environment system agent,” we no longer focus solely on individual intelligent agents but rather on how these agents collaborate with their surrounding environment, other intelligent agents, and humans to form an organic whole. In other words, AI is no longer “fighting alone” but is integrated into a broader ecosystem, working alongside humans and the environment.2. Definition of System Agent
A system agent is a composite intelligent system composed of multiple subsystems (including AI systems, humans, life forms, the physical environment, data flows, etc.), and there exist interdependencies, interactions, and collaborations among these subsystems. In such a system, each element (whether human, machine, or environment) does not exist in isolation but collaborates as part of the overall system. For example, in the concept of smart cities, intelligent agents include not only automated traffic systems, smart buildings, and AI services but also human residents and pets interacting with these systems. This system can respond in real-time to the behaviors, needs, and environmental changes of humans/living beings, optimize resource allocation, and continuously learn and adjust.3. Components of Human-Machine Environment System Agent
Humans: Humans are an indispensable part of the system, serving as decision-makers, users, and feedback providers. Human needs, emotions, cognition, and behaviors will profoundly influence the design and development of intelligent agents.
Machines: This includes various types of intelligent devices, sensors, automation systems, etc. These machines are responsible for processing data, executing tasks, and making intelligent decisions.
Environment: This refers to the physical, social, and informational environment in which the agents operate. It includes the natural environment (such as weather, geography) as well as social, cultural, and technological environments (such as economic systems, social networks, etc.).
4. Interaction and Collaboration
In the human-machine environment system, the various components work together through a highly integrated manner. The interaction between machines and the environment may include the collection and analysis of sensor data, while humans interact with the system in real-time through various input methods (such as voice, gestures, actions, etc.). The AI system will make decisions based on these inputs and reflect them in the environment (for example, automatically adjusting temperature, controlling traffic flow, etc.). In a smart healthcare system, doctors and patients, as human components, interact with medical devices and AI algorithms as machine components, while healthcare institutions serve as the environment. The system agent will provide real-time interventions based on patient health data (environment) and doctor’s decisions (human) through smart medical devices to enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare services.5. Holistic Intelligent Evolution
The “human-machine environment system agent” will drive the evolution of intelligent technology, addressing not only the intelligent problems of individual tasks but also the complex issues across domains and environments. System agents can adapt to changing external environments and continuously self-optimize and enhance through interactions with humans and machines, forming a more efficient, flexible, and sustainable intelligent ecosystem. This type of agent can not only perceive, reason, decide, and execute but also dynamically coordinate and provide feedback across a broader scope, ensuring balance and collaboration among different components. With technological advancements, we may see such systems playing a significant role in smart cities, smart healthcare, automated manufacturing, smart agriculture, and more. In summary, the goal of the human-machine environment system agent is to create a more integrated, adaptive, and flexible intelligent system through deep interaction and collaboration between artificial intelligence, the physical world, and humans. This system represents not just a technological breakthrough in AI, but also a diverse, interdisciplinary collaboration and integration process, ultimately aiming to advance the collective progress of humans, machines, and the environment, enhancing quality of life, work efficiency, and addressing the complex issues facing the world.
