Capital One’s AI assistant is part of a larger trend of companies deploying AI agents to tackle tasks often performed by entry-level employees, or to create efficiencies for high-level workers.
In the simplest sense, an AI agent is the combination of a large language model (LLM) and a traditional software application that can act independently to complete a task. The most basic AI agents include Chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s CoPilot, and Google Bard; they can answer user questions on a myriad of topics. AI agents can also act as spam filters, such as email spam detectors that use keyword matching and smart devices such as Thermostats that can follow set rules for raising or lowering temperature based on environmental conditions.
Last month, Google DeepMind announced Project Astra, a research initiative aimed at developing a universal AI assistant that can process text, images, video, and audio inputs, enabling more natural and context-aware interactions. A key feature of Project Astra is its multimodal capabilities, allowing users to engage through various means such as speaking, showing images, or sharing videos. The assistant can remember details from past conversations and utilize tools such as Google Search, Maps, and Lens to provide informed responses.