Hubspot CTO explains how networks of collaborative AI agents will transform work

The dawn of collaborative AI networks: Hubspot’s CTO, Dharmesh Shah, envisions a future where networks of AI agents work together to tackle complex tasks, potentially revolutionizing how businesses operate and interact with technology.

• Shah believes that AI agents represent the next evolution beyond today’s AI copilots, capable of handling higher-order goals involving multiple steps.
• The concept of collaborative AI networks could transform various aspects of business, including customer relationship management (CRM), sales, and marketing.
• Hubspot is positioning itself at the forefront of this trend with the launch of agent.ai, a professional network for AI agents that has already attracted over 47,000 users and 1,700 builders.

The architecture of agent collaboration: Shah describes a hierarchical structure where teams of AI agents work together, supervised by higher-level agents, to accomplish complex tasks efficiently.

• “Mini agents” would be responsible for specific tasks, such as researching company transcripts or analyzing website traffic.
• Higher-level agents would coordinate these mini agents, combining their outputs to achieve more complex objectives.
• This modular approach allows for the composition of increasingly sophisticated AI systems, likened to building with Lego blocks.

Natural language as the key to interoperability: Unlike previous attempts at creating collaborative systems, such as CORBA in the 1990s, generative AI’s natural language capabilities may solve longstanding interoperability challenges.

• The use of natural language as an API for AI agents enables seamless communication between humans, agents, and other agents.
• This universal interface eliminates the need for specialized programming languages, potentially accelerating the adoption and integration of AI agents across various platforms and industries.

Implications for the CRM industry: Shah predicts that the rise of collaborative AI networks will lead to a significant transformation in the customer relationship management software landscape.

• The shift towards AI-based “smart CRM” systems is expected to be as impactful as the transition to cloud-based CRM solutions in the mid-2000s.
• Competition among CRM providers like Hubspot and Salesforce will increasingly focus on offering the best platforms for both users and developers to leverage AI agents.
• This new paradigm could attract a new generation of developers looking to build AI-powered solutions for marketing, sales, and customer management.

The future of software development: The emergence of collaborative AI networks may redefine the role of developers and the nature of software creation.

• Shah anticipates that AI agents will become “the new apps,” with developers focusing on creating and integrating these agents rather than traditional web-based applications.
• Platforms that provide robust support for AI agent development and deployment may gain a significant advantage in attracting developer talent and innovation.

Analyzing deeper: While the potential of collaborative AI networks is promising, several questions remain unanswered. How will issues of data privacy and security be addressed in this interconnected AI ecosystem? What ethical considerations might arise from increasingly autonomous AI systems making complex decisions? As this technology evolves, it will be crucial to monitor its impact on employment, decision-making processes, and the overall structure of businesses and industries.