What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?

What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?

Source:ZTE Document

Original Author: ZTE Document

This article introduces what AI Agent is and what functions it can achieve.

Today, let’s talk about a particularly hot concept in the tech field—AI Agent!

What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?

The former world’s richest person wrote on his personal blog:AI Agent (AI intelligent agent/assistant) “will fundamentally change the way computers are used and disrupt the software industry.”He also predicted that “Android, iOS, and Windows are platforms, and AI Agent will become the next platform.”A leading figure in the internet industry emphasized at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference: “AI Agent played an important role in filling out college entrance examination applications, attracting 2 million users on peak days.”What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?So what exactly is an AI Agent? How is it related to me? Let me help you fill in the information gap and understand what AI Agent is all about.What Is AI AgentAcademia and industry have proposed various definitions for the term “AI Agent.” Among them, OpenAI defines an AI Agent as “a system driven by a large language model that has the ability to autonomously understand, perceive, plan, remember, and use tools, capable of automating the execution of complex tasks.”In simpler terms: most of the time, you give it a final goal you want to achieve, and it can deliver results directly, without you having to worry about the process.

What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?

What Is the Relationship Between AI Agent and LLMSo what is the relationship between AI Agent and LLM (Large Language Model)? It can be simply understood that the large model is the premise and foundation for the realization of AI Agent.We can metaphorically compare AI Agent to a biological organism and its brain, where the AI Agent has hands and feet and can work and execute tasks on its own, while the LLM is its brain.For example, imagine you have an AI chef in your kitchen—an AI Agent.If you only use the AI large model, it might only provide you with a recipe, telling you what ingredients and steps are needed to make a dish.But with an AI Agent, it can not only provide the recipe but also help you choose the most suitable ingredients based on your taste preferences and nutritional needs, even automatically place orders, monitor the cooking process, and ensure the quality and flavor of the food, ultimately serving you a delicious dish.What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?Currently, LLMs may have some issues, such as generating hallucinations, results not always being real and reliable, or having limited knowledge of current events, which makes them seem inadequate when handling complex tasks.However, AI Agents can compensate for these shortcomings by integrating autonomous verification and decision-making processes, ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of actions.This makes the entire system more reliable and efficient when facing complex tasks, just like an experienced chef who not only knows how to make delicious food but can also flexibly adjust according to actual situations to ensure the final results are satisfactory.How Does AI Agent WorkThe architecture of AI Agent is the foundation of its intelligent behavior, typically including key components such as perception, planning, memory, tool usage, and action, which work together to achieve efficient intelligent behavior.What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?Let’s take a relatable example:Suppose we have a smart home management AI Agent named “Xiao Xing,” which collaborates in the following ways:What Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?After Xiao Xing executes the above actions, it will perceive user feedback. If the user adjusts the lighting brightness through voice command, Xiao Xing will record this preference and automatically apply this setting in the future.Combining the above content, let’s summarize:The workflow of AI Agent is actually a continuous loop process.It starts with perceiving the environment, followed by information processing, planning, and decision-making, then executing actions. Finally, it adjusts based on the execution results and environmental feedback to optimize future actions and decisions.Through this structured and hierarchical approach, AI Agent can effectively process information, make decisions, and execute tasks in complex environments.This architecture not only enhances the intelligence level of AI Agents but also increases their adaptability and flexibility.Next, I will share two excellent cases of innovation exploration: ChatDev and Stanford’s AI Western Town.Example 1: ChatDevWhat Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?Image from the paper “ChatDev: Communicative Agents for Software Development”ChatDev is an innovative project developed jointly by Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Brown University. This is a software development company with only AI Agent employees, achieving full-process automated software development driven by a large model.On this platform, AI employees autonomously start from user needs, through an intelligent dialogue window, led by the CEO Agent, to refine tasks and assign them to various AI Agent roles such as CTO, CPO, Designer, Programmer, Tester, Reviewer, etc.They will interactively collaborate to produce a complete software solution, including but not limited to source code, environment configuration guides, and user manuals. This process is completed in just a few minutes at a cost of less than one dollar.Although challenges such as content randomness, insufficient logical correlation, and potential security risks still exist, ChatDev undoubtedly points the way for AI in the software development field.The future software product chain will be significantly shortened. All humans need to do is supervise and make decisions; just thinking about it is exciting~Example 2: Stanford’s AI Western TownWhat Is AI Agent and Its Capabilities?Image from the paper “ChatDev: Communicative Agents for Software Development”The virtual western town, also known as Smallville, is a research project developed by researchers at Stanford University. This virtual town is an interactive sandbox environment. In this sandbox interactive environment, 25 AI Agent residents exhibit remarkable social abilities with their human-like behavior patterns.

Their daily activities include leisurely walks in the park, enjoying afternoons at cafes, and sharing news with neighbors. What is even more astonishing is that they not only remember their daily experiences but can also initiate social activities, such as planning and inviting for Valentine’s Day parties, and coordinating times with each other, etc.~

ENDReprinted content only represents the author’s viewsIt does not represent the position of the Semiconductor Institute of the Chinese Academy of SciencesEditor: Xiao ShuaiResponsible Editor: Six Dollar FishSubmission Email: [email protected]Previous Recommendations1.The Semiconductor Institute has made progress in the research of bionic covering neuron models and learning methods2.The Semiconductor Institute has made significant progress in the inverted structure perovskite solar cells3.Why are chips made of copper as interconnect metal?4.What exactly is 7nm in chips?5.Silicon-based integrated optical quantum chip technology6.How anomalous is the quantum anomalous Hall effect? It may lead to the next revolution in information technology!

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