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South China Morning Post
20 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
AI agents: how tech is pushing artificial intelligence to work autonomously
Have you ever chatted with a helpful robot online or received a package from a drone? That shows artificial intelligence (AI) at work, transforming everything around us. In the future, you might even work with new 'colleagues', called AI agents. What is an AI agent? An AI agent, also called agentic AI, refers to computer programs that can work on their own. Many companies are trying to make autonomous software systems that are capable of processing information, making decisions and taking actions to achieve specific goals, often without human intervention. What makes it different from the AI chatbots we have already seen? AI chatbots respond to users' questions, making them effective for simple interactions. In contrast, modern AI agents can now operate in the background, completing actions and linking tasks between different applications without interrupting the user's workflow. AI agents are not just a passing trend; they have become the latest battleground of the tech world as the biggest companies aim to create the best one. Over the years, AI agents have evolved significantly, automating increasingly complex tasks (see graphic). How can agentic AI be useful for us? As these technologies advance, it is important to understand how they work. Below, we delve deeper into various forms of AI agents. Computer-using agents (CUAs) are a type of AI agent that drives a browser for its user. They can book a restaurant, make online purchases and more – all at the same time. CUAs scan a webpage and interact with it by typing, clicking and scrolling the way humans would. OpenAI launched a CUA in January, called Operator. While it is still a work in progress, Operator blends multimodal reasoning with workflow automation to handle any task that is asked of it. Multi-agent systems use several AI agents that collaborate or compete to handle complex workflows. For example, Anthropic has launched a feature that uses multiple Claude agents to conduct complex research. In this system, different AI agents work at the same time to search for information, changing their paths based on what they find. This mimics how humans search for information, but with this system of AI agents working together, the process becomes much quicker. Hybrid agents combine the speed and automation of AI with human oversight, allowing the AI agents to assist in adaptable and balanced decision-making. This is similar to Microsoft's Copilot, which offers AI assistance while keeping a human in the loop. Some argue that keeping humans involved is especially important if AI agents are involved in high-risk decisions. Tech for a better planet: how student innovations can lead the charge How will AI agents affect the future of work? A report released by the World Economic Forum in January predicted that by 2030, AI would displace 92 million jobs, but there is a silver lining: AI will also create 170 million new jobs. One emerging role could be for AI communicators, who must be able to imagine how AI can improve workflows. By enhancing our skills in AI communication, we can ensure these systems' outputs are safe, ethical and beneficial for everyone. In a report on AI agents released last December, the World Economic Forum pointed out that AI agents working independently could have many risks for human rights, privacy and safety. After all, AI can hallucinate false information, operate on biases and misunderstand vague instructions. The report urged the importance of closely monitoring, testing and researching the effects of AI agents before deploying them. As AI systems grow more sophisticated, we will need to manage the risks if we hope to leverage their capabilities. Sponsored by At PST, we make technology education accessible and fun for learners of all ages. Our mission is to ignite a passion for technology, empowering them to confidently navigate the digital landscape. Preface invites you to try their quiz on AI – how much do you understand about this new technology? Click here for more information.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Elon Musk renews criticism of Trump spending bill, calls for new political party
Billionaire Elon Musk reiterated his criticism of US President Donald Trump's spending legislation on Monday, arguing that it underscores the need for a new political party. The Tesla chief slammed the 'insane spending' of the bill, particularly the measure that increases the debt ceiling by US$5 trillion. 'It is obvious … that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,' Musk wrote on X. Musk has repeatedly expressed frustration with what he sees as bipartisan indifference to ballooning government debt. Earlier this month, he publicly clashed with Trump over the bill before backtracking later. The bitter public feud has led to volatility for Tesla, with shares of the company seeing wild price swings that erased around US$150 billion of its market value, though it has since recovered.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
EU and Canada back down on US trade amid Trump strong-arm tactics: report
US President Donald Trump 's strong-arm tactics against American trading partners appeared to bear some fruit on Monday following reports that the European Union was willing to pay 10 per cent higher levies on many of its exports, after another climbdown by Canada on Sunday. In considering the 10 per cent increase, however, the 27-member EU wanted a US commitment to reduce tariffs in return affecting pharmaceuticals , alcohol, semiconductors and c ommercial aircraft , Bloomberg reported on Monday. Brussels was also pushing Washington to effectively ease sectoral US tariffs of 25 per cent import taxes on cars and car parts and 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, Bloomberg added, citing people familiar with the matter. The apparent concession by the EU follows a decision by Canada to drop a 3 per cent digital services tax that the US president did not like. This came after Trump announced on social media on Friday that 'we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately'. Play The administration had added that it would decide without any consultation with Ottawa what forthcoming US tariff levels Canada would face.
