AI Innovations: Adobe's Product Support Agent, Manus' Impact on China's Tech Scene, and Workday's New Developer Tools

Adobe has expanded its suite of AI agents with the introduction of the Product Support Agent, aimed at streamlining troubleshooting and support case management on the Adobe Experience Platform. Unveiled on June 4, this tool leverages the Adobe Experience Platform Agent Orchestrator to provide immediate assistance and case pre-filling capabilities through an AI Assistant interface. Users can approve cases automatically populated with contextual data before submission. Additionally, Adobe has announced the global availability of its Data Insights Agent, enabling direct data queries in natural language and visualizations within the Analysis Workspace using Adobe Customer Journey Analysis. Future AI agents are set to focus on account qualification, data engineering, site optimization, and workflow optimization. (Source)

Chinese AI startups Manus, Genspark, and Flowith are rapidly advancing new AI technologies and competing on a global scale. Genspark, founded by former Baidu executives Eric Jing and Kay Zhu, features an integrated system of "super agents" that can switch among multiple language models to handle diverse tasks such as making slide decks and placing phone calls. With over 5 million users and $36 million in annual revenue, Genspark is gaining traction. Flowith, known for its "infinite agent" model that uses a mind-map interface for creative interaction, is positioning itself as a knowledge platform. Despite geopolitical challenges that have restricted major U.S. AI companies like OpenAI from operating in China, these startups are looking overseas to maximize revenue and influence. They aim to fill the void left by foreign models with homegrown solutions, while their international ambitions underscore their potential to successfully integrate into the global tech scene. (Source)

Adam Bowen, CEO and co-founder of Tergle, highlights the transformative impact of AI agents on back-office industries like accounting and auditing, where repetitive and manual tasks are prevalent. These AI agents are automating data extraction and transaction analysis, drastically cutting down time and costs, which Bowen likens to the business advantages seen in the early internet era. With predictions that AI could automate up to 30% of work hours by 2030, the role of human workers will shift from manual tasks to supervisory roles focusing on decision-making in ambiguous situations. While startups rapidly adopt these innovations, established companies may struggle due to systemic inertia. Regulatory requirements will ensure some human oversight, but the shift to AI-driven processes threatens the roles of junior and mid-level staff significantly more than senior professionals, as AI continues to streamline operations with superior efficiency and reliability. (Source)

The article provides an analysis of the current agentic AI landscape, categorizing AI agents into four quadrants based on agency and coordination: Instruction, Orchestration, Autonomy, and Choreography. It explores the characteristics and risks associated with each category, emphasizing that most practical applications today fall within the Instruction and Orchestration quadrants where agents are controlled and predictable. The piece highlights that true autonomy and choreography, where agents act independently and collaboratively, remain largely theoretical and risky due to immature technology. It cautions against the hype and stresses the importance of understanding AI systems' capabilities and limitations to effectively manage risks and align with enterprise strategies. (Source)

Workday (Nasdaq:WDAY) has introduced new developer tools as part of its Illuminate agentic AI platform to enhance integration of its HR and finance software with external agents. The enhancements include the Agent Gateway, AI Widgets, and expanded AI Gateway APIs, all aimed at streamlining tasks like drafting knowledge-based text, job descriptions, and contracts. Illuminate, which debuted in September 2024, offers real-time AI assistance in workflows and leverages insights from 800 billion business, HR, and financial transactions processed by Workday customers each year. (Source)