When is an artificial intelligence agent useful?
Efficiency question :
There are several types of artificial intelligence agents, including two broad categories: conversational agents, which retrieve and present information, and agentic agents, which can perform actions. Their applications are numerous and address different needs.
Conversational agents can, for example, answer employees’ human resources questions, support customer service, or provide information about available training courses.
Key issues:
An agent’s effectiveness depends on the quality and structure of the data it can access. This data must be properly organized, protected, and accessible only according to granted permissions. Confidential information must be subject to appropriate access controls.
Challenges:
Integrating agents requires a secure IT infrastructure. Access management, data protection, and cybersecurity are essential because agents generally inherit the permissions configured in their environment.
Technology:
Several AI platforms support the creation of custom agents. SLV Expert favours Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio because of their integration with Microsoft 365 and their data security and governance features.
Developer's advice:
Determine from the outset where your agent will be used. It can be deployed in Microsoft Teams, directly in Copilot, through a web browser, or embedded in an intranet or internet site. The deployment choice affects configuration, access, and the security measures required.