By tf-lawyer.com In a recent interview, Dan Milmo, the global technology editor, discussed the emerging capabilities of artificial intelligence with a focus on the startup Anthropic. The company, which has financial backing from Amazon and Google, has unveiled an AI agent named Claude. This innovative model can perform a range of computer tasks, including moving the mouse cursor and typing text.
Milmo highlighted that Anthropic’s Claude can manage tasks such as filling out forms, planning outings, and building websites. He noted that the rise of autonomous AI agents is being seen by tech firms and investors as a promising frontier, despite the significant costs associated with developing and operating such technology.
Anthropic, which is in competition with OpenAI, has made its Claude 3.5 Sonnet model available to developers, albeit with a disclaimer about its potential for errors. “At this stage, it is still experimental – at times cumbersome and error-prone,” a company representative stated. They emphasized that early access is meant to gather feedback from users, with expectations for rapid improvement.
During the interview, Milmo mentioned a demo where Claude assisted a fictional employee by filling out a form using data from a spreadsheet. In other demonstrations, the AI agent planned a trip to watch the sunrise in San Francisco and created a website to promote its capabilities.
This announcement from Anthropic coincided with Microsoft’s release of a new product that enables companies to create their own autonomous AI agents. Early adopters, such as McKinsey, are developing agents to manage client inquiries and schedule follow-up meetings. Other notable users include the law firm Clifford Chance and the retailer Pets at Home.
Milmo elaborated on how both Anthropic and Microsoft frame their products as tools designed to minimize mundane tasks like filling out forms or responding to client inquiries. Microsoft, in particular, reassures employees that these technologies should be viewed as “enablers” rather than job threats.
However, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raises concerns about the impact of AI-driven automation on skilled jobs. According to their research, these positions account for roughly a quarter of jobs across their 38 member countries, including major economies like the UK, Japan, Germany, the US, and Australia.
Andrew Rogoyski, a director at the Institute for People-Centred AI at the University of Surrey, remarked that the tech industry is on the brink of adopting large-scale use of autonomous agents. “On one level, there is the potential for users to learn more efficient methods and automate repetitive tasks. On another, we may be inadvertently teaching future AIs how to perform our jobs,” he warned.
