AI’s for Iron Man suits, not robots

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In focus

• An AI startup founder’s grounded take on using AI agents
• This co-founder’s back in a flash
• The impact of Alibaba’s AI gambit on its financials

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Hello,

When I first heard of AI agents, my mind immediately went to the agents from The Matrix.

In the film, agents like Smith look unstoppable – inevitable, even. But as the story unfolds, their flaws become obvious. That feels a lot like the AI agents in our world today.

Our first Top Story, written by Pints.ai co-founder and CEO Partha Rao, cuts through the hype and dives into what AI agents can actually do. While consultants might promise that these agents can do everything short of dodging bullets, the truth is they’re a bit more brittle.

The article contains actionable tips for how startups can make use of the AI agents of today without falling for the sci-fi promises of tomorrow.

Meanwhile, back in the world of brick-and-mortar business, Flash Coffee’s co-founder is making a US$3 million comeback with Cata, a startup helping restaurants roll out their own branded apps in days.

As Cata builds its foundations up, expansion beyond F&B is on the horizon.

Peter Cowan, engagement editor

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Top Stories

1️⃣ A realist’s guide to deploying AI agents that work

The secret to success for working with AI agents today? Turns out, it’s understanding their limitations.

As Rao puts it, what we call AI agents are flowcharts glued to large language models. Expecting them to handle mission-critical work is foolish.

However, if firms start small – say, using agents to chew through tedious data-wrangling tasks – they’ll find that today’s AI agents can already deliver real value.

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A data story you shouldn’t miss

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