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AI Agents More Autonomous Than Chatbots Set to Arrive, Safety Experts Express Concerns

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By Cameron Aldridge

AI Agents More Autonomous Than Chatbots Set to Arrive, Safety Experts Express Concerns

Photo of author

By Cameron Aldridge

Throughout each day, we are faced with numerous decisions. Philosophers have long maintained that this capacity for intentional action, known as agency, sets humans apart from simpler organisms and mechanical devices. However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging this distinction, as tech companies develop AI "agents" capable of making decisions and achieving objectives with little human intervention.

Tech firms are under pressure to demonstrate profitable outcomes from their massive investments in AI. As a result, they are touting these AI agents as the next big thing in consumer technology. Unlike basic chatbots that require ongoing guidance to produce text or images, AI agents use sophisticated language models and can independently interact with external applications to complete tasks for individuals or organizations. OpenAI has identified the development of agents as a crucial step towards creating artificial general intelligence (AGI) — AI that surpasses human capabilities across all cognitive tasks. The company plans to unveil an agent named "Operator" soon. According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, AI agents may one day surpass the human population in number. Some experts, however, view this push towards AI agents as a risky move for an industry that often favors rapid advancement over safety.

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Tech giants argue that AI agents will relieve humans from tedious work, thereby opening doors to more meaningful employment and significant productivity boosts for companies. Iason Gabriel, a senior researcher at Google DeepMind, suggests that agents will free us to concentrate on what truly matters: relationships, personal growth, and thoughtful decision-making. Google DeepMind introduced a prototype called “Project Astra,” which acts as a universal AI assistant in daily life. In a demonstration, Astra interacted with a user through a smartphone, analyzing and describing programming code using a human-like voice.

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However, “Project Astra” won’t be available to the public until next year at the earliest. Current AI agents are mostly used for repetitive tasks like coding or managing expense reports, reflecting both technological constraints and developers’ caution about deploying agents in critical areas. For instance, Silvio Savarese, chief scientist at Salesforce, expressed reservations about using agents in sensitive scenarios such as legal proceedings, despite introducing a platform called Agentforce for handling customer service inquiries and other limited tasks.

Savarese anticipates the rise of personal agents that could manage your data and continuously adapt to your preferences and lifestyle. Imagine an agent planning your summer vacation, booking flights, and making restaurant reservations while accounting for your seating preferences and dietary restrictions. This adaptability is crucial, as agents must be able to respond effectively to unforeseen changes, such as finding alternative flights if the preferred ones are unavailable.

What Defines an Agent?

Corporate interest in AI agents has surged recently, although the concept isn’t new. All machine-learning algorithms are inherently “agentic,” continuously refining their goal-achieving capabilities based on vast data analysis. Stuart Russell, a leading AI researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, notes that AI systems have always been viewed as agents, albeit some are very basic.

Recent advancements are making AI tools increasingly agentic, such as the ability to operate digital tools like search engines. Anthropic’s Claude chatbot, for example, can now manipulate a cursor and click buttons as demonstrated in a recent video where it completed an online form. The progression of agency in AI correlates with the ability to make complex decisions over time and tackle more challenging tasks. Gabriel from Google DeepMind envisions future agents that could contribute to scientific discoveries by automating the scientific method.

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Despite the close ties between agency and consciousness, there’s no evidence suggesting that advancements in AI agency will lead to machine consciousness. Tech companies aren’t claiming their AI tools possess free will, though users might perceive advanced AI agents as sentient due to evolutionary instincts.

Emerging Challenges

The proliferation of AI agents introduces potential complications in workplaces, online environments, and the broader economy. Current legal frameworks, designed to regulate human behavior, must adapt to accommodate the unique actions of AI agents, which some experts liken to “alien intelligence.”

In sectors like finance, where algorithms have traditionally assisted with price tracking, agentic models are beginning to make independent financial decisions, raising complex legal and economic issues. Gillian Hadfield of Johns Hopkins University highlights the lack of infrastructure to integrate agents into existing regulatory systems, questioning whether organizations or the algorithms themselves should be held accountable for contract breaches.

Designing agents that adhere to human ethical standards presents another challenge, known as the “alignment” issue. As AI becomes more capable of autonomously setting and pursuing subgoals, it becomes increasingly difficult for humans to understand or predict the AI’s decision-making processes. The risk of misaligned goals and potential manipulation grows as agents gain autonomy.

Regulatory Oversight for AI Agents

AI researchers like Bengio and Russell advocate for regulatory measures to prevent past errors and unforeseen consequences. They support a cautious approach to AI development, emphasizing safety over commercial interests. This precautionary principle is already standard in other U.S. industries, such as pharmaceuticals and aviation, which require rigorous testing and federal approval before new products can be launched.

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Bengio warns that the rapid commercialization of AI agents could soon reach a tipping point, making it difficult to reverse their integration into society due to their economic value. He compares this to the rise of social media, which quickly outpaced effective regulatory oversight.

As we stand on the brink of an era dominated by artificial agents, the importance of deliberate, thoughtful decision-making has never been greater. “We need to think carefully before we jump,” Bengio advises, urging a reflective approach to the future of AI.

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