Kia ora, future-gazers!
Last month, our class was buzzing with the energy of our very first 'Build your first AI Agents' course. We teamed up with the awesome crew from Autohive, and with the help of Dave and Joe, we dove headfirst into the world of AI agents. It was a hands-on, high-fives-all-around kind of day, and we're still buzzing from the success.
So, what exactly is an AI agent? Think of it as a digital teammate with a superpower for getting things done. Instead of just answering questions like a chatbot, an agent can perform a series of specific, automated tasks for you. They’re perfect for handling all those small but time-consuming jobs that don't require a personalised touch. From collating coffee requests from course attendees and emailing the cafe, to creating follow-up calendar appointments, we're even using them ourselves to automate tasks.
During the workshop, our attendees didn't just learn about agents—they built them! Everyone created a "Personal Assistant" agent that could send emails, summarise calendar appointments, and even prepare a follow-up summary after a client meeting. It was mind-bending in the best way possible! As one of the attendees put it, "Autohive is one of the best products I’ve tried when it comes to AI, it’s like an aha moment of here’s what an AI-native workflow could look like." Another attendee called it "simple and should be table stakes for any organisation," which perfectly sums up our philosophy.
Dave from Autohive also showed us a low-key ‘real’ demo of a customer support agent that could provide technical responses. It really drove home the point that this tech is tangible and already here. Nathan, one of our attendees, said, "you guys have genuinely hosted the most useful, tangible and inspiring workshop I’ve attended - seriously it’s epic hype for the technology but with real substance."
Perhaps the most inspiring feedback came from Adiraj Gupta, an entrepreneur and founder of Sendd: "AI Supercharge was mind bending in the best way possible. If you haven't taken part, I would highly recommend trying out a program!! This should be provided to every student across the country at all levels... We can change the country and move the needle on our GDP from selling houses to each other to being leaders in the coolest tech ever!"
The excitement is real, and the potential for a more productive future is right in front of us. This is what we’re all about: making powerful technology accessible and supercharging New Zealand's businesses, one course at a time.
But with great power comes great responsibility. As we embrace AI agents, it's crucial to think about how we can build them in a way that's fair and ethical. This is where the FAIR framework comes in. Think of it as a simple checklist to make sure our AI tools are doing good, not harm.
What is the FAIR Framework?
The FAIR framework is a straightforward guide to help us develop and use AI responsibly. It stands for:
Fairness: Is the AI fair to everyone? This means the AI should not be biased. For example, an AI agent used for recruiting should not favor one gender or ethnicity over another. We need to make sure the data we train AI on is diverse and representative.
Accountability: Who is responsible when things go wrong? When an AI agent makes a mistake, we need to know who is accountable. Is it the developer? The company using it? Clear accountability ensures we can fix problems and learn from them.
Inclusivity: Does the AI work for everyone? AI should be designed to be accessible and helpful to people with different backgrounds, abilities, and needs. This means considering things like language, accessibility features, and cultural context.
Responsibility: Are we using AI for good? This is a broad but crucial point. We must consider the impact of our AI agents on people and society. Are we using them to automate tasks in a way that helps people, or are we using them in a way that could cause harm?
The FAIR framework is a powerful tool because it's simple to remember and apply. It helps us build technology that not only gets the job done but does so with integrity and a focus on human well-being. By keeping these four principles in mind, we can ensure that the AI revolution we're so excited about is a positive one for everyone.
Ready to build your own AI agent and see what all the hype is about? Register for our next course and let's get supercharged.
