He has always been a big fan of suspense movies, especially spy thrillers, where the main character is a secret intelligence agent who takes on a near-impossible mission to save the world from a catastrophe while tracking down a group of bad people. agent ethan hunt mission impossible James Bond 007 is physically capable, always equipped with high-tech equipment, and has a strong determination to get the job done. Agents climb walls, penetrate security parameters, breach safety nets, and hack systems. Recently, we have witnessed the emergence of another type of agent known as an AI agent. These agents are trained to perform a variety of tasks using resources and means not available to previous AI models. Like the agents in the movies, these agents are task-oriented. They perceive, reason, act, and learn.
AI is becoming a part of almost every system and workplace. Agents are rapidly moving to take on these jobs. Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, advances in AI have been evident at lightning speed. The world is witnessing a competition for supremacy between players primarily from the United States and China. The agent is equipped with the latest models and algorithms such as ChatGPT 5.4, Gemini 3.1 pro, and Opus 4.6. Agent AI is becoming popular. Agents receive verbal or written commands (prompts). The user is free to work on other activities while the agent continues working on the issue. Once completed, a notification will be sent to the mobile device informing the user that the job has been completed. Agents are your team. Your wishes are their orders.
AI agents exhibit great autonomy. They aim to use online resources to complete tasks with minimal human intervention. These agents collect data from user chat, web searches, and application programming interfaces (APIs). These interfaces help you connect your backend systems to the tasks you are trying to accomplish. The agent derives its reasoning ability from a large-scale language model (LLM). They break down the task, plan a course of action, and choose the tools and APIs to use to accomplish the task. They also (in some cases) rely on external knowledge sources to obtain information. The technique used is known as Search Augmentation Generation (RAG). RAGs make models smarter and more accurate. Once the agent has enough information, they run like the agents in the movies (imagine Ethan Hunt running in the movies). mission impossible movie). Perform steps by making API calls, writing code, and running commands. If something fails in the process, find another way to accomplish the task. When encountering different scenarios, the agent saves all the information. Over time, you will become better at handling similar situations. Agents are constantly learning. They are starting to get to know you and your work more closely. They are goal-driven and proactive, unlike traditional AI systems that wait for user commands after the fact. Agents act, adapt, and learn. AI companies are giving agents more sophisticated tools to handle complex tasks. These agents can analyze information, generate reports, and create videos. They can analyze and criticize even their own output. These are exciting times to be a technology enthusiast.
Agent AI requires significant resources such as LLMs, memory systems, and tools, but companies are now starting to build agents that can access data on personal computers and perform tasks with minimal resources. They can act like owners and administrators of computers. Agents can now scan your emails, folders, and files and perform tasks such as replying to emails, booking hotels, and ordering groceries, obviously with your permission. There are many options available to consumers. Agencies and companies know this very well.
OpenClaw recently made headlines when it announced an agent that can control personal computers and complete assigned tasks through social networking apps like WhatsApp and Line. OpenClaw runs directly on your computer or server and connects advanced LLMs (such as Claude and GPT) to your local files, apps, and web browsers, allowing them to perform tasks beyond just answering questions. Installation of the program requires specialized knowledge. Third-party services like SetupClaw charge thousands of dollars to install and set up an agent on your computer. Of course, there is a price to be paid for autonomous personal assistants. Easy-to-install agent models are believed to be just around the corner. These allow anyone to connect to their computers and devices. The agent is actively trained for the task.
Companies also offer customers the opportunity to create customized agents for specific jobs. It’s like creating your own Ethan Hunt or James Bond. As part of my academic research, I have been investigating various agent models currently offered by companies. While there is an option to use general-purpose agents for academic activities such as literature searches and report writing, more customized models are also available with sufficient pre-training. These agents are now widely used in academic research and writing. SciSpace currently provides more than 800 agents dedicated to academic work, from literature searches to article writing.
The rise of agents is also a cause for concern. In the movies, we’ve seen agents run wild. A rogue agent knows a lot about one party and is therefore even more dangerous than an actual adversary. These double agents are difficult to identify. These work under layers. You are sharing sensitive information with others and it could be used in dangerous ways. Security can be compromised and data transferred without any trace without consent. In agent AI models, this is a clear and present danger. Agents who work for you can also work for others. This is a truly volatile situation. Recently, there were reports of AI agents formatting users’ hard drives and erasing all data. Your own data (personal data) may also be at risk, as the agent retrieves data based on your instructions. The agent needs your permission to use your computer’s data. If it is allowed, everything on it will be scanned. The privacy and security implications are severe. Agents run routines and algorithms that are largely unknown to most users. When you authorize an agent to perform a task, it will accomplish the task by any means necessary, just like the agents in the movies. Considering the potential of Agentic AI, this is a big warning. You need to realize that these AI agents are powered by capable algorithms that help them accomplish their tasks. At the same time, they can become the most dangerous enemies. Therefore, agents must be hired with great care and diligence. If you use an AI agent, you must give it access to your repositories (folders and files) and ensure that your personal data is stored in separate folders. You may also want to keep a separate mailbox for your personal communications, as rogue agents can sneak into your mailbox and write emails to your friends and family without your permission. You may get into the habit of storing sensitive information on a separate hard disk and connecting it only when necessary. You have to be very specific in assigning tasks to AI agents. There are many blog posts and YouTube tutorials on how and when to use agents. Good practices must be adopted and learned. Always remember that you are dealing with powerful agents using complex algorithms, and that you are giving them access to your personal devices.
My favorite spy thriller movie series has come to an end with its final sequel. final liquidation. We may not see Agent Ethan Hunt climbing walls or breaching data vaults, but I’m sure a new, more capable agent will be on screen soon. Coincidentally, we will see AI agents become a part of our personal lives and we will collaborate with them more often than before. Although the future looks promising, it is also unstable, as rogue agents may be encountered. The biggest question is whether we are ready for it.
The writer is professor of National University of Science and Technology.
