Magda Cocco is the author of an opinion article in Jornal de Negócios on one of the most significant technological transformations of our time: the evolution of artificial intelligence from a tool to an autonomous agent.
In the article, she highlights that ‘AI agents are emerging as the next major technological transformation in businesses and, at the same time, as a decisive test for the European model of digital regulation’. Unlike the generative AI solutions currently used to respond to specific requests, these systems are capable of planning, deciding and executing tasks with a degree of autonomy, interacting with different systems, data and organisational processes.
For Magda Cocco, the potential of these agents is significant, but it also raises complex challenges for businesses. ‘The question is not whether this will happen, but how,’ she notes, emphasising the need to integrate the discussion on AI into a broader agenda covering governance, risk management and ethics.
The article also highlights that human oversight and cybersecurity will be key elements in this new context. As the author notes, ‘it is not enough to “ask” the model, in natural language, to behave well’; robust mechanisms for control, auditing and accountability must be ensured.
The VdA Partner also reflects on the impact of this technological evolution on society and democratic institutions: ‘Ultimately, the real debate is political and social: in a world where decisions relevant to the economy and our daily lives are taken by chains of artificial agents, will we be able to ensure that the human agency of citizens, businesses and democratic institutions remains substantive, and not merely decorative?’
- This article was published in the print edition of Jornal de Negócios on 9 July.
