Both tools are built on Elastic’s Search AI platform and work with large-scale language models of the customer’s choice.
Pell said adding an AI agent builder to its portfolio was a natural evolution for Elastic, as customers already use search tools to understand both structured and unstructured data.
“This goes back to our tradition of being able to capture complex data. The AI agent needs to have a built-in engine to dig deep into first-party data to ground the AI. This is our area of expertise,” he said.
The company had already moved beyond search into surveillance systems and security.
“As our product evolved, we started using search to branch out into other product pillars in our portfolio: search, observability, and security,” Pell said.
“In addition to capturing data for search, we also capture data to monitor systems for observability. We also direct that engine towards cyber threats to investigate and understand vulnerabilities across our customers’ data.”
Helping partners build their AI practices
Pell said the new tools will create more opportunities for Elastic’s partners.
“Agent Builder makes it easier for partners to collaborate with customers to understand unstructured data,” he said.
Craig Ashwood, GM of cybersecurity at Elastic’s Australia and New Zealand distributor Tech Data, said the tool could help partners build their AI practices.
“It’s important for partners to be able to move AI projects to completion rather than stopping at the proof-of-concept stage,” he said.
“For partners looking to build an AI practice, this is an opportunity to provide solutions and expand their product offering.”
Tech Data will work with partners to help build practices based on AI and unstructured data.
“We will help our partners quickly understand how to deliver these projects and achieve end-user ROI,” Ashwood said.
Tech Data has been Elastic’s reseller in the region for 18 months. During that time, Ashwood says, it has become an extension of the vendor’s channel team.
“We are helping our partners scale up across their landscapes,” he said.
“For New Zealand in particular, we’ve taken on a number of partners and spent a significant amount of time understanding their situation from a certification perspective.”
