We look at the future of AI agent systems and dig into key players, approaches, and roadblocks in the space.
What you need to know:
- Multi-agent systems outperform single agents on complex tasks by leveraging specialized sub-agents, improving accuracy and modularity.
- While still in the early stages, multi-agent architectures are gaining traction in enterprise applications like customer service and software development, with major tech companies and startups developing frameworks and tools.
- Future software applications will be defined by their agent architectures. We envision that AI agent marketplaces will emerge, enabling dynamic integration and collaboration between specialized agents across platforms.
AI agents — LLM-based bots that can independently assign themselves to and complete tasks to fulfill a user’s goal — took off like wildfire in 2023.
Now, multi-agent AI systems are emerging as the next iteration to provide a more effective approach to executing complex tasks.
Multi-agent systems string together agents that “talk” to each other and collaborate. They promise efficiency and productivity gains for enterprises beyond what individual agents could deliver.
The agent space has seen a proliferation of startups, with top-funded companies like Ema and Sierra building multi-agent architectures for enterprise applications across healthcare and customer service. Tech giants like Microsoft have begun releasing multi-agent tooling, reflected in fast-rising media interest in 2024.
Source: CB Insights — Platform search of news articles mentioning multi-agent AI
Limiters to widespread adoption remain, from agent reliability to orchestration complexity. But advancements in multi-agent systems suggest a future where entire teams of AI workers — run by AI managers, and guided by human leaders — accomplish increasingly complex workflows.
Eventually, software applications will be defined by their agent architectures, where systems spin up new agents dynamically and interact with other external agents to accomplish tasks.
Below, we highlight:
- The multi-agent AI opportunity
- Where multi-agent architectures are today & notable activity
- What to watch
The multi-agent AI opportunity
Want to see more research? Join a demo of the CB Insights platform.
If you’re already a customer, log in here.
