While conducting a recent interview with Marco Santos of GFT Technologies, he cited the concept that in the not too distant future we would all have an AI assistant that would guide us through life. Now, that's not a new concept, but the point of comparison he drew was kind of an awakening for me. In our conversation Marco drew the comparison between a Super-App to a AI Super-Agent. I had never had anyone draw the line that connected these two disparate concepts together. And, once I really started to think about it ... well, let me share my thoughts about this, and what I think the outcome will be for AI-Super Agents.
The rise of super-apps, like WeChat in Asia, has had tech giants in the West scrambling to catch up. These all-encompassing platforms offer messaging, payments, shopping, and more, all rolled into one. In Asia, super-apps have revolutionized the way people live, work, and interact. However, despite their popularity in the East, super-apps have failed to gain significant traction in the West. Uber was probably the company that came the closest, but ultimately they scaled back their plans, and defaulted to focusing on ride-share and delivery.
While super-apps thrive in markets with fragmented app landscapes and limited access to traditional services, the West presents a different scenario. We have a plethora of established, specialized apps – think messaging with Whatsapp,payments with Venmo, and ride-hailing with Uber. Users are comfortable navigating this ecosystem, and brand loyalty is strong. A super app would have to include all the best features of all these different apps into a single unified customer experience - very difficult to do.
But here's a thought: what if the West bypasses the super-app stage altogether and jumps straight to a future powered by AI super-agents? Instead of a single, monolithic app, the West might be headed towards AI-powered super-agents. Imagine a virtual assistant that integrates seamlessly across your existing apps. Leapfrogging super-apps completely with our own individualized AI-powered super-agent.
It could leverage AI to anticipate your needs, suggest relevant services, and even handle transactions on your behalf – all within the familiar interfaces you already use. Let's look at how similar these two concepts are, the super-app and the super-agent. With the Asian super-app users logged into WeChat to do everything. Similarly AI-powered super agents will help us perform these same tasks, but with our AI super agent doing the heavy-lifting.
I asked Marco if he thought it our interaction with our AI super agent would just be voice to interact with the AI. He quickly dismissed this notion and said there would always be devices that display information, and instrumentation that allows us to enter information, and also an interface that we can touch. He greatly stressed the touch aspect and that all the human senses should be involved in interacting with our AI super agent.
This AI super-agent wouldn't just aggregate services; it would understand them. It could learn your preferences, compare prices across platforms you frequent, and even negotiate deals for you. Imagine booking a flight, securing the best hotel based on your past reviews, and automatically arranging airport transportation – all orchestrated by your AI agent.
The super-agent concept isn't set in stone. It could evolve into a network of interconnected AI helpers, each specializing in different areas. This distributed approach might align better with the fragmented app landscape and privacy concerns of the West. Providing all your information to your AI, thats being operated by a technology vendor has its own concerns.
Super-apps require vast amounts of user data to function seamlessly. However, stricter data privacy regulations in the West, like GDPR and potential changes in data tracking on iOS and Android, make this model less appealing for developers.
The constant battle between convenience and privacy might make super-agents a tough sell, or at least a rocky road to navigate. This push me - pull battle between privacy and functionality will need to be figured out. In relation to privacy and sharing information with the rest of the world and your AI super agent - I always thought the concept of a privacy control panel that looked kind of like a graphic equalizer control board would be helpful.
While super-apps offer undeniable convenience, the West might be well-positioned to leapfrog this stage. With a strong foundation of specialized apps and a growing focus on data privacy, AI super-agents could be the next frontier. These intelligent assistants, built on the bedrock of existing services, could usher in a future of hyper-personalized convenience without sacrificing user control.
The race for digital dominance is on, and the West might be taking a surprising yet strategic route. Instead of adopting super-apps, the West is poised to embrace AI super-agents – personalized, omniscient, and omnipresent companions that will revolutionize the way we interact with technology. These AI super-agents will learn our habits, preferences, and needs, providing tailored recommendations and automating tasks to make our lives easier.
The West is skipping the super-app phenomenon and moving directly to AI super-agents, which will fundamentally change the way we live and work. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect AI super-agents to become an integral part of our daily lives, offering unparalleled convenience, efficiency, and personalization. The future of technology is not about apps – it's about AI-powered companions that will transform the fabric of our society.
What's your thought about the East's super apps, and AI-powered super agents?
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