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What Is Agentic AI, and How Will It Change Work?

From the early days of mechanical automatons to more recent conversational bots, scientists and engineers have dreamed of a future where AI systems can work and act intelligently and independently. Recent advances in agentic AI bring that autonomous future a step closer to reality. With their supercharged reasoning and execution capabilities, agentic AI systems promise to transform many aspects of human-machine collaboration. The agentic AI prize could be great, with the promise of greater productivity, innovation and insights for the human workforce. But so, too, are the risks: the potential for bias, mistakes, and inappropriate use. Early action by business and government leaders now will help set the right course for agentic AI development, so that its benefits can be achieved safely and fairly.

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The next era of human-machine collaboration will present new opportunities and challenges.

Ben Goertzel: AGI, SingularityNET and Decentralized AI

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In this episode of the Eye on AI podcast, we dive into the world of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with Ben Goertzel, CEO of SingularityNET and a leading pioneer in AGI development.

Ben shares his vision for building machines that go beyond task-specific capabilities to achieve true, human-like intelligence. He explores how AGI could reshape society, from revolutionizing industries to redefining creativity, learning, and autonomous decision-making.

Throughout the conversation, Ben discusses his unique approach to AGI, which combines decentralized AI systems and blockchain technology to create open, scalable, and ethically aligned AI networks. He explains how his work with SingularityNET aims to democratize AI, making AGI development transparent and accessible while mitigating risks associated with centralized control.

Ben also delves into the philosophical and ethical questions surrounding AGI, offering insights into consciousness, the role of empathy, and the potential for building machines that not only think but also align with humanity’s best values. He shares his thoughts on how decentralized AGI can avoid the narrow, profit-driven goals of traditional AI and instead evolve in ways that benefit society as a whole.

AI Agents: Easier To Build, Harder To Get Right

Today, AI agents have evolved to become more modular and sophisticated. Agents like ChatGPT can engage in conversations and assist in a wide range of workflows, including customer service and financial decision-making.

Technologies such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) allow AI systems to combine different data sources dynamically, making them more adaptive and helpful in real-world applications. As AI’s influence expands into industries such as finance, healthcare and cybersecurity, it is becoming clear that AI agents are critical components of modern business operations.

Despite the remarkable progress in AI, deploying these systems presents several challenges. One of the primary concerns is the risk of bias embedded in the datasets used to train AI agents. AI systems learn from historical data, which can contain patterns of discrimination that, if unchecked, lead to biased decisions, such as favoring particular groups over others in hiring or lending scenarios.

Meta announces the construction of its largest data center to date

The company has unveiled plans for a new data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, marking a significant expansion of its global infrastructure. The $10 billion investment will be Meta’s largest data center to date, spanning a massive 4 million square feet. This state-of-the-art facility will be a crucial component in the company’s ongoing efforts to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Meta did not disclose an estimated completion or operational date for this facility.

The new Richland Parish data center will create over 500 full-time operational jobs, providing a substantial boost to the local economy. During peak construction, the project is expected to employ more than 5,000 workers.

Meta’s decision to build in Richland Parish was driven by several factors, including the region’s robust infrastructure, reliable energy grid, and business-friendly environment. The company also cited the strong support from local community partners, which played a critical role in facilitating the development of the data center.

Robert Stone & Dr. Marcel van den Brink — City of Hope — Innovative, Compassionate Accessible Care

Delivering Innovative, Compassionate And Accessible Patient Care — Robert Stone, CEO — City of Hope & Dr. Marcel van den Brink, MD, PhD, President, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center.


Robert Stone is the CEO of City of Hope (https://www.cityofhope.org/robert-stone), a premier cancer research and treatment center dedicated to innovation in biomedical science and the delivery of compassionate, world-class patient care. A seasoned health care executive, he has served in a number of strategic decision-making roles since he joined City of Hope in 1996, culminating with his appointment as president in 2012, CEO in 2014, and as the Helen and Morgan Chu Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair in 2021.

Mr. Stone has J.D., University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL.

Mr. Stone’s strategic acumen, empathy and visionary leadership have driven City of Hope’s rapid evolution.

As an independent institution dedicated to advancing the fight against cancer and diabetes, City of Hope is accelerating opportunities for high-impact discovery and ensuring that patients around the world have access to the most advanced therapies. Recent examples include a groundbreaking alliance in precision medicine with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), a leader in genomic analysis and bioinformatics; leadership in CAR T cell therapy research and therapy; and an innovative program to offer cancer support services to the employees of some of American’s largest employers, regardless of geography.

Transforming Businesses With LLMs: Risks And Use Cases

Conversely, proprietary LLMs typically offer robust security features but still pose data privacy and control risks. Using these models involves sharing sensitive data with a third-party provider, which could lead to regulatory penalties if a breach occurs.

LLMs also lack transparency regarding their training data and how datasets are formed. Be mindful of potential bias and fairness issues and consider a human-in-the-loop approach, where specialists review and manage the model’s output.

LLMs are most effective when used to streamline complex processes and drive innovation. To leverage these models responsibly, prioritize data governance—especially in highly regulated industries.

NASA will never be the same with new administrator, Jared Isaacman

🚀 Q: How will Jared Isaacman’s background influence NASA’s future direction? A: Isaacman’s experience as a business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut will drive NASA towards a bold era of space economy development, focusing on groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology, and exploration.

🌠 Q: What is Isaacman’s vision for NASA’s mission? A: He aims to pursue a thriving space economy, transforming humanity into a space-faring civilization with breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and potentially new energy sources.

Simulated AI pets gain popularity among Chinese consumers

Boosted by China’s rapid development pace in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, more companies have noted the huge business potential in AI companionship sectors, as simulated AI pets with adorable appearances gaining increasing popularity among Chinese consumers.

Zhang Yi, CEO of the iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday that consumers’ demand for emotional support and the capability of current AI technologies offer this type of products greater business potential.

A Beijing-based student in her 20’s surnamed Zhang, who is also an AI technology fan, told the Global Times on Sunday that she bought “Boo Boo,” a simulated AI robotic pet developed by Hangzhou-based Genmoor Technology.

How Small Businesses Can Leverage AI To Optimize And Scale

Froilan Mendoza is Founder & Chief Technology Officer of Fulcrum Solutions.

Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy. They represent 99.9% of all businesses in the country, account for 43.5% of GDP and employ almost half of the U.S. workforce. Yet small business owners have always had to overcome obstacles to survive and succeed. Lack of capital is responsible for 38% of small business failures. Labor costs make up 70% of their expenses, and a national labor shortage of 2 million workers is exacerbating the difficulty of hiring and keeping talent.

The good news is that AI is leveling the playing field for small businesses, giving them easy-to-use tools to optimize their processes and scale their organizations without huge teams or budgets. A 2024 study from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that 98% of small businesses are already using an AI-enabled tool, and 91% of owners say that AI will fuel future business growth. The use of generative AI tools, such as chatbots and image creators, grew by 40% in the last year.

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