In 2026, AI is expected to shift from experimental to essential for business, with a focus on proving ROI and productivity gains, as companies adopt more autonomous agents and integrate AI into real-world applications, despite challenges in deployment and organizational adaptation.
Originally Published 2 months ago — by Hacker News
The article discusses building and composing AI agents using large language models (LLMs), emphasizing the benefits of modular, specialized agents over monolithic ones, exploring local model deployment to reduce costs, and sharing practical insights and challenges in developing effective AI tools and systems. It highlights the simplicity of creating agents, the importance of tool integration, and the ongoing debate about the economics and reliability of AI inference in production.
The article highlights a new AI feature in ChatGPT that can automatically cancel online subscriptions, showcasing the potential of AI agents in managing personal tasks, though it also discusses its limitations.
The FBI has dismissed up to 20 agents, including those involved in a 2020 incident where agents knelt with protesters during George Floyd protests, as part of a broader effort to remove what the agency considers 'woke' elements, amid internal reviews and leadership changes.
Valorant's 11.05 patch, delayed by a day due to a holiday, introduces visual updates for agents Harbor, Reckoning, and Cove, along with bug fixes and gameplay improvements. Esports features include the return of Pick'Ems with new Factions for Champions Paris, and behavior system adjustments to penalize remake abuse. The patch also includes platform-specific updates and bug fixes for various agents and features.
Dwayne Johnson, once determined to surpass the stardom of George Clooney and Will Smith, fired agents who doubted his potential. Now, his films have grossed more than those of Clooney and Smith, with $4.6 billion in earnings in the US and Canada. Despite achieving his goal, Johnson's ambitions have shifted towards pursuing what he loves, focusing on personal fulfillment and family.
Lamar Jackson, who negotiated his own contract, missed out on $750,000 in annual workout bonuses by not participating in enough voluntary workouts. This raises questions about whether a professional agent could have secured these bonuses or restructured the deal to avoid such losses, potentially covering their own fees in the process.
Bill Belichick, who will be working in the media during the NFL draft, expressed skepticism about media reports on players' draft stock, attributing them to agents rather than teams and suggesting that agents may inflate their players' draft prospects to generate interest. He acknowledged that teams do sometimes leak information late in the process, but emphasized that it's generally too early for that. This will be Belichick's first time discussing the draft rather than participating in it.
John Cena's agents initially advised against his cameo in the Barbie movie, fearing it would harm his tough guy image and future roles, but he insisted on taking the opportunity, emphasizing that he's not just a commodity but a human being open to all opportunities. Despite the initial resistance, Cena's comedic talent has been increasingly recognized in Hollywood, and he continues to pursue diverse roles, including his upcoming comedy projects.
Valorant players are requesting a "chaotic" game mode where the most broken versions of each Agent are brought back. Players want to experience the overpowered abilities of Agents like Chamber, Astra, Viper, and more. Some suggest a game mode where every Agent is broken or a mode with infinite abilities and no guns. It remains to be seen if Riot will consider implementing this community feedback.
Valorant players are calling for a rework of the Agent Neon to make her more viable and less niche. Currently considered the worst of the movement-focused Agents, players suggest giving Neon a new passive ability that allows her to jump on walls and jump off every few seconds, increasing her evasiveness and making her harder to hit. While it is unlikely that major changes will be implemented soon, tweaks to Neon could potentially be seen in a future update.
Over 300 top agents participated in a Zoom call with SAG-AFTRA's negotiators to discuss potential strike-related issues, including series exclusivity, residuals, option periods, and the use of A.I. SAG-AFTRA leadership stated that members would be allowed to continue working on Actors' Equity Association and ACTRA projects after a strike was called. The call with agents took place on the same day that SAG-AFTRA leadership held a call with top publicists to discuss promotion protocols in the event of a strike. The AMPTP has requested assistance from the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service to prevent a potential strike, but SAG-AFTRA's agreement is required for mediation to proceed. Another negotiation extension is likely if a federal mediator is agreed upon.
Agents in the NFL have access to valuable inside information regarding whether their injured clients will or won't play in games. While they currently share this information with reporters, there is concern that agents could potentially use this information for gambling purposes or sell it to others. The league and union should collaborate to develop strategies to prevent the misuse of this information.
Riot Games has announced that two more Agents will be added to Valorant's roster before the end of 2023, along with the release of Team Deathmatch in Episode 7. One of the Agents will be a Sentinel, while the other will be a Duelist. The abilities of the new Agents are yet to be revealed.
Agents can use pre-draft damage control to prevent their clients' draft stock from falling due to off-field issues or unexpected events. Experienced agents like Drew Rosenhaus can help prevent a major draft slide. In 2003, agent Joel Corry helped his client, Dennis Weathersby, salvage his draft stock after he was shot six days before the draft. Weathersby was ultimately drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round but suffered a severe head injury in a car accident and was unable to continue his NFL career.