Artificial intelligence has been a hot topic for the last few years. With all the buzz around AI, many people are wondering what an agent in AI is and why it’s important. An agent is a piece of software that can independently initiate, monitor, and respond to actions. Agents are used in artificial intelligence because they manage tasks that would require human intervention if left alone. They also make things more efficient by focusing on one task at a time instead of switching between them frequently. Keep reading to learn more about agents in AI and why they’re important.
What is an Agent in AI?
An agent is a piece of software designed to autonomously perform a specific task. Agents are used in artificial intelligence to complete tasks that would otherwise be too complex or tedious for humans to complete. When people talk about AI, they usually refer to an AI agent. There are many different types of agents in AI, each with their own specific use case.
- Backend Agent: A backend agent processes the data from a specific data source, such as an API or database. This type of agent makes sure that the data is ready for a specific AI task.
- Controller Agent: A controller agent manages the workflow of an AI workflow. It makes sure that the workflow is completed correctly and that the results meet specific requirements.
- Data Preparation Agent: A data preparation agent cleans and normalizes data that’s ready for an AI workflow.
- Data Source Agent: A data source agent actively searches for data and pulls it into the AI workflow.
- Execution Agent: An execution agent executes the AI workflow and manages the creation of the model or other output of the workflow.
- Model Management Agent: A model management agent holds and manages the models created by an AI workflow.
- Model Orchestration Agent: A model orchestration agent manages multiple models at once and makes sure they work together.
Why Agents Are Important in AI
Agents are the main building blocks of AI software. They’re responsible for collecting data, analyzing it, and transforming it into a useable format. Agents also actively search for new data sources, which allows AI software to continue growing and evolving as time goes on. Each agent in AI is responsible for a different task, which ensures the entire workflow runs smoothly. Agents are also responsible for managing workflow dependencies. When one part of the workflow is completed, it notifies the other agents so they can move on to the next task.
Types of Agents in AI
- Data Preparation Agent: A data preparation agent cleans and normalizes data that’s ready for an AI workflow. A data preparation agent may remove duplicate entries, correct misspellings, or apply other transformations to make the data usable for the AI workflow.
- Data Source Agent: A data source agent actively searches for data and pulls it into the AI workflow. A data source agent may pull data from a database, website, or another source as needed by the AI workflow.
- Execution Agent: An execution agent executes the AI workflow and manages the creation of the model or other output of the workflow. An execution agent makes sure the workflow is completed correctly and follows the data flow established by the other agents.
- Model Management Agent: A model management agent holds and manages the models created by an AI workflow. A model management agent stores the model and makes sure it’s ready to be used at a moment’s notice.
- Model Orchestration Agent: A model orchestration agent manages multiple models at once and makes sure they work together. A model orchestration agent manages the workflow of multiple models and ensures they’re all working correctly together.
Examples of Agents in AI
- Data Preparation Agent: A data preparation agent may correct misspellings, remove duplicate entries, or apply other transformations to make the data usable for the AI workflow.
- Data Source Agent: A data source agent may pull data from a database, website, or another source as needed by the AI workflow.
- Execution Agent: An execution agent makes sure the workflow is completed correctly and follows the data flow established by the other agents.
- Model Management Agent: A model management agent stores the model and makes sure it’s ready to be used at a moment’s notice.
- Model Orchestration Agent: A model orchestration agent manages the workflow of multiple models and ensures they’re all working correctly together.
Key Takeaway
Artificial intelligence is reliant on agents to function, and there are many different types of agents in AI. A backend agent collects data from various sources and prepares it for an AI workflow. A data preparation agent cleans and normalizes data ready to be used in an AI workflow. An execution agent manages the workflow and completes the tasks necessary to create an output model. Ready to dive into AI? Start by learning about agents in AI.