SaaS is in the past. The future belongs to agents, says Narada AI's CEO
Change is coming 'in the not-too-distant future,' Park said on Equity, TechCrunch's flagship podcast. 'The typical knowledge worker today deals with anywhere from 17 to 25 different SaaS tools and portals every day, wasting two and a half hours just manually looking up or updating these systems. We believe in a future where it'll just be the data, the databases, and AI agents or agentic models that take your request and operate across those silos to get the job done.'
Narada AI, which made its debut at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 and is based on UC Berkeley research, has developed large action models: a spin on LLMs that can reason through and complete multi-step tasks across different work tools even when APIs are missing.
Park joined Rebecca Bellan on Equity to talk about the rise of agentic AI, what it actually is, how it differs from traditional automation, and what real-world changes enterprises need to make to deploy it at scale. The timing for the conversation is ripe: YC's most recent batch included 70+ agentic startups, and major players like Grammarly are building full AI work stacks through partnerships and acquisitions.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about:
What most people misunderstand about automation and who's getting caught in the agentic hype.
How tools like Narada could eventually help solopreneurs and smaller teams, not just the enterprise giants.
Why the future of software might not be 'using' apps at all.
Equity will be back on Friday with our weekly news rundown, so don't miss it!
Equity is TechCrunch's flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.
Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why It's Finally Time to Embrace Prebuilt Gaming PCs
Pre-built PCs now use name-brand components and have shifted away from low-quality parts to a higher standard. Upgrading a pre-built system is easy, since you can add storage or swap out the RAM or GPU. Pre-built PCs come with better warranties for all original components compared to custom-built systems. Are you looking at buying a pre-built gaming PC, but leery because of the reputation of pre-built systems? While the past they may not have been worth buying, modern pre-built gaming PCs are actually a great choice for your setup—here's why. In the past, I had always told people to avoid pre-built gaming PCs. They were known for using low-quality and cheap parts to save a buck while charging a premium for being 'built for gaming.' When I used to work in PC repair, I can't tell you how many no-name low-cost power supplies I replaced, nor can I even begin to remember how many junky motherboards blew caps after just a year or two of use. This alone was enough to avoid going pre-built—but that's all changed now. A shift in recent years has changed the landscape of pre-built gaming PCs. For a while, you couldn't get graphics cards (or any PC components, for that matter) unless you bought a pre-built system because of scalpers. Companies actually saw this and did something good for a change: built better systems. Yes, pre-built PC prices did go up some, but so did the quality of the systems. Instead of no-name bargain-barrel power supplies, many mid-range gaming PCs now ship with name-brand PSUs. The same can be said for SSDs, graphics cards, motherboards, and RAM. Another thing that happened was a lot of component manufacturers got into the pre-built gaming space. Yes, there are still brands like ORIGIN-PC and MAINGEAR out there, but CORSAIR, NZXT, MSI, and others now have pre-built gaming desktops that are pretty great, all things considered. Rather than skimping out, many companies are now using name-brand and quality components, and everyone benefits from this. Of course, there are still bargain-bin PCs out there that use no-name components, but that's becoming the exception, not the rule. Something you might not realize is that pre-built PCs can be upgraded just like custom-built systems. A custom-built PC and pre-built PC is all built from the same parts—the only thing that changes is who is building it. This means you can swap out the RAM, SSD, graphics card, power supply, or even processor without a problem. While the new components won't be covered under the pre-built PC company's warranty (more on that below), you'll have an upgraded system. One of the biggest ways you can upgrade a pre-built system is by adding more storage. Since many companies are using name-brand and premium motherboards, there are typically a handful of NVMe slots on modern systems, with only one being used up in a typical build from the factory. Another way is by adding more or swapping out RAM entirely. Both the NVMe upgrade and RAM upgrade can add big benefits to your system while being easy and cost-effective to do. However, the biggest thing you can swap out in a pre-built system is also (typically) the biggest component—the graphics card. Yes, in a pre-built system you can definitely swap the GPU out, so long as the power supply can keep up. If the PSU is too underpowered for the new GPU you plan to add? Just upgrade the PSU at the same time. The warranty of a pre-built gaming PC is actually better than that of a custom-built—sort of. Pre-built systems are warrantied top to bottom for the original components that it ships with. Depending on what brand you go with, a warranty claim could result in either a full system swap or a single component swap. Either way, however, the brand will likely offer full system diagnostics to help determine what the issue is. Custom-building your own PC isn't quite so user-friendly in that regard. I have a friend who re-built his gaming PC recently and did a custom build. He just spent almost two weeks diagnosing what the issue was so he could RMA the defective parts. To diagnose the issue, he had to purchase new components to test things one-by-one in order to find out what was broken. This wouldn't have been the case had he went pre-built. So, if you're not super savvy on PC building (or you just want to take the easy way out), there's nothing wrong with buying a pre-built gaming PC these days. While the gaming community might see that as a lesser system, know that it's not lesser in any way. Pre-built gaming PCs are great options these days, and still remain one of the few ways to get brand-new graphics cards on release with any relative ease.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Can a Mini PC Replace Your Desktop PC?
We typically see desktop PCs as powerful, zero-compromise machines that easily trump mini PCs in every single aspect. But is this really the case? While nothing can fully replace a desktop for certain tasks, mini PCs can serve as excellent desktop alternatives with few, if any, compromises for most people. If you're using your desktop PC for relatively non-demanding work, like working in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office apps, light photo and video editing, maybe some hobbyist-level programming and such, a mini PC can definitely replace it, and it doesn't have to entail compromises. Mini PCs have come a long way during this decade. Instead of feeble machines powered by lackluster processors and insufficient memory, modern mini PCs are excellent as everyday work machines, including budget models that sell for just a couple of hundred dollars. Thanks to Intel's recent focus on designing CPUs that combine performance and efficient cores (P-cores and E-cores), we've gotten a number of power-sipping, efficient core-only processors that pack surprisingly high amounts of power. CPUs such as the Core i3-1220P, N100, and N150 can match any budget desktop PC while being power-efficient and able to tackle any type of aforementioned workload without breaking a sweat. Couple said CPUs with at least 16GB of memory, and you've got yourself a capable everyday computing machine that can fit the palm of your hand and feel as snappy as any modern desktop and laptop. The best thing is that these CPUs are found in mini PC machines that cost anywhere from less than $150 to about $250, meaning you can get a worthy desktop replacement without paying the prebuilt and small form factor PC taxes. If you're willing to spend more, you can snag machines powered by the latest and greatest AMD and Intel mobile CPUs that come with surprisingly powerful iGPUs you can use for demanding tasks such as video editing in resolutions higher than 1080p, batch photo editing in Adobe Lightroom, working in CAD software (just make sure you get enough memory), music production, as well as professional-level coding and programming. In a nutshell, a mini PC can do everything a desktop PC can, unless we're talking about workloads that require powerful desktop-class GPUs (such as 3D rendering) or workstation-class CPUs, like an AMD Threadripper processor. PC gamers, on the other hand, should stick to their desktops. While it's true that mini PCs powered by AMD's newer mobile chips that include beefy iGPUs are capable of running even newer AAA titles at 1080p with decent performance (higher than 30FPS), they're still pretty limited compared to even budget gaming PCs. While they certainly can match desktop CPUs in power (the CPU found inside my ASUS ROG Ally outperforms my previous desktop CPU, an AMD Ryzen 5600X), the GPU part of the equation is lacking. A budget gaming GPU from a few generations ago, such as the RTX 2060, runs circles around even the most powerful integrated graphics you can find in a mini PC. Now, you can certainly pair an OCuLink-equipped mini PC with an external GPU, but the catch is that said setup will cost more than what you'd pay for an equivalent gaming PC you'd build yourself. Furthermore, dealing with external GPUs is an entire can of worms that entails lots of troubleshooting issues. If you're not particularly tech savvy, it's better to even get a prebuilt gaming PC than attempting to make a mini PC and an eGPU combo work. Truth be told, there are certain mini PCs, such as the Beelink Gti12 Ultra and Gti14 Ultra, that come with a full-sized PCIe 4.0 x8 slot, allowing you to pair them with an appropriate eGPU dock and get yourself a hassle-free gaming PC setup that won't limit the GPU performance due to the lack of bandwidth like other solutions (Thunderbolt and OcuLink) do. However, they're more expensive than building a comparable gaming PC, so I don't recommend them over building the PC yourself unless you have specific needs and demands that require this kind of solution. Lastly, there's a number of gaming-oriented mini PCs, such as the ASUS ROG NUC lineup or MINISFORUM AtomMan series, but they're prohibitively expensive and usually not worth it unless you really want a tiny gaming PC and aren't ready to build an SFF gaming desktop yourself. If you're a professional, I recommend sticking to your desktop. While high-end mini PCs can match high-end laptops in terms of CPU power, their integrated graphics leave much to be desired. If you need a high-end dedicated GPU for your work, you shouldn't even think about getting a mini PC. Also, you won't find a Threadripper-equivalent mini PC offering similar amounts of processing power. While you certainly can use a mini PC for CPU-intensive workloads, the amount of time you'll save by using an HEDT CPU is priceless in situations where time is money. If you like the idea of a compact desktop machine that excels at demanding workloads, think about building an SFF PC based on a flagship desktop-class CPU like an AMD Ryzen 9950X or Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, or consider getting an M4 Pro Mac Mini or Mac Studio if you're okay with using macOS. An M4 Pro-powered Mac Mini can be an outstanding 4K video editing or coding machine—for coding, you can get away even with the base M4 Mac Mini. At the same time, a Mac Studio can be a perfect choice for running large local LLMs and other AI-related workloads due to being available with up to 512GB of lighting-fast unified memory. A mini PC can definitely replace a desktop PC; the only question is what you're using said desktop PC for. If the answer is everyday office work, music production, hobbyist or semi-professional video or photo editing, programming, and similar workloads that don't require powerful GPUs, then yes, you can get an equivalent experience out of a mini PC. But if you're a PC gamer, someone who can't do their work without a desktop-level GPU, or a professional who needs their work completed as quickly as possible, I recommend sticking to the desktop form factor.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stocks mostly rise on trade deal optimism
Asian markets mostly rose Thursday on optimism that governments will hammer out deals to avoid the worst of US President Donald Trump's tariffs even after he broadened his range of measures. Negotiators from around the world have tried to reach agreements with Washington since Trump in April unveiled his "Liberation Day" tariff bombshell, with a July 9 deadline recently pushed back to August 1. Letters have been sent in recent days to more than 20 trading partners -- including Japan and South Korea -- setting out new tolls, with some higher and some lower than the initial levels. The US president also said this week he would put a 50 percent tariff on copper imports, while considering a 200 percent charge for pharmaceuticals. However, analysts said the threats are largely being seen as negotiating tools, and investors have increasingly taken them in their stride, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting all-time highs in New York. And David Chao, global market strategist for Asia Pacific at Invesco, painted a positive picture even in light of the threatened levies. "Should the US ultimately impose higher tariffs on Asian countries, the region appears better positioned to withstand the resulting headwinds," he wrote. "A softer dollar should give Asian central banks greater flexibility to ease policy to support their domestic economies without heightened concerns over currency depreciation." Asian stocks mostly advanced after a healthy lead from Wall Street, where the Nasdaq hit another peak thanks to a surge in Nvidia that pushed the firm to a $4 trillion valuation at one point. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta all rose, though Tokyo edged down with Wellington. The broadly upbeat mood helped push bitcoin above $112,000 for the first time. There was also little reaction to news that Trump had hit Brazil with a 50 percent tariff as he blasted the trial of the country's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro. In a letter addressed to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, he called the treatment of his right-wing ally an "international disgrace". Bolsonaro is on trial over accusations he plotted a coup after his 2022 election loss to Lula. Lula said he will impose reciprocal levies on the United States. Brazil had not been among those threatened with these higher duties previously, with the United States running a goods trade surplus instead with the South American giant. Traders were given few guides on the Federal Reserve's interest rate plans after minutes from its June policy meeting showed officials divided on the best way forward. Boss Jerome Powell's patient approach to lowering borrowing costs has drawn the ire of Trump, who on Wednesday said they were "at least" three points too high. While the board sees the president's tariffs as inflationary, the minutes said there remained "considerable uncertainty" on the timing, size and duration of the effects. Companies might choose not to raise consumer prices until they depleted their product stockpiles, for example, but supply chain disruptions caused by the levies could trigger larger price hikes. "While a few participants noted that tariffs would lead to a one-time increase in prices and would not affect longer-term inflation expectations, most participants noted the risk that tariffs could have more persistent effects on inflation," the report said. - Key figures at around 0230 GMT - Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.5 percent at 39,610.61 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 23,938.07 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,503.13 Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1741 from $1.1719 on Wednesday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3608 from $1.3590 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 145.95 yen from 146.30 yen Euro/pound: UP at 86.28 pence from 86.21 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2 percent at $68.28 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.1 percent at $70.15 per barrel New York - Dow: UP 0.5 percent at 44,458.30 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,867.02 (close) dan/rsc Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
