News / Research Journal
Thoughts and questions on agents, agency and institutions
A research journal by Nicklas Lundblad
This is a research journal for the project that I am undertaking at the TUM Think Tank, about agents, agency and institutions. I am hoping to explore this subject broadly, thinking through various aspects and sharing the work through here.
But first let me explain why I think this is such an interesting area. Agentic AI has now been robustly identified as one of the core trends that we will need to understand more in detail over the coming years. There are questions ranging from liability to whether agents should be regarded as moral patients, and there is no shortage of research, writing and debate – so why engage with such a saturated field?
The reason is that I am interested in what makes agents agents in the first place – I am interested in agency. I find agency a fascinating subject, and am convinced that we might have cheated in our project to develop artificial intelligence by not starting with agency.
We are, to quote David Krakauer who directs the Santa Fe-institute, teleonomic matter – or stuff that wants stuff.
The research journal is published every Friday!
Read the journal editions here
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Note 1: Stuff that wants stuff
Agentic AI has now been robustly identified as one of the core trends that we will need to understand more in detail over the coming years. There are questions ranging from liability to whether agents should be regarded as moral patients, and there is no shortage of research, writing and debate – so why engage with such a saturated field?
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Note 2: Artificial Apprentices
Imagine you are training a junior colleague in the craft you're engaged in – what is the best way of ensuring that they develop fast, and how can you help them develop skills? Do you tell them everything you know about your area of expertise? Or do you show them how to deal with specific cases? It seems obvious that you should do the latter, right? And that is why we have the notion of apprenticeship.
