2024 was a transformative year for generative AI, with innovations like multimodal models and agentic workflows reshaping industries and redefining possibilities. Explore the trends that defined the year and their impact on workplaces worldwide.
Before we go any further – what is generative AI anyway? Essentially, it’s a subset of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to produce something new based on a prompt.
As Q Hamirani wrote for Forbes in early 2024, “Think of AI as a highly skilled worker, while Gen AI is more like an innovative artist or creator.”1
In the last twelve months, the advancements in generative AI have been astonishing. We’re now seeing applications that we wouldn’t have even dared dream of at the beginning of 2024.
Here are some of the most notable changes we saw in the AI landscape last year, plus what they’ve meant for Attensi and our partners.
We’re all familiar with those ‘customer service’ chatbots that pop up on most websites. Designed to answer basic customer queries, more often than not, they lead you in a few confusing circles before you’re desperately typing, “LET ME SPEAK TO A HUMAN!”
But don’t let that put you off AI assistants. We’ve now seen developments that allow models not to just parrot responses to pre-defined prompts, but to offer valuable assistance and advice across a whole host of platforms.
Perhaps even more impressive is the development of agentic workflows, using different AI agents to collaborate and work autonomously towards a common goal.
“Agentic AI is when a compound group of intelligent AI models works autonomously and yet in total synchronicity to complete tasks in an iterative fashion,” says Upanishad Loomba, Senior Customer Success Manager at Attensi. “Imagine a hive of bees – they’ve all got their own jobs, and are interacting and working together towards the same goals. This technology has been wondrous for pushing the boundaries of our product offering whilst maintaining control over authenticity.”
Despite the flurry of complex activity going on behind the scenes, interacting with the newest generation of agentic AI is simpler than ever – just like a conversation with a real person.
“AI agents are making their way into workplaces not to take jobs, but to make people better at their jobs. Where AI has largely been a productivity tool, taking on laborious tasks and making work processes more efficient, this new wave of “human-like” AI offers support at a whole new level.” Trond Aas CEO and Co-Founder | Attensi
Large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s Chat GPT have been kicking around for a good while now, and as users, we’re pretty used to getting like-for-like input from these types of generative AI models. You put text in, you get text out.
But recently, we’ve seen a huge rise in multimodal models. These models can process different types of prompts and data, from images and text to video and even code, and provide output in a range of mediums too.
As Upa puts it, “A couple of years ago, you might have had GPTs which were text in text out, but what’s happening now is that you’re able to input different mediums and get an output of different mediums of your choice – we’re well beyond just text and audio.”
As multimodal models continue to advance, we’re seeing far more opportunities to apply artificial intelligence in the workplace to improve both creativity and productivity.
We’ve applied these developments in our Attensi CREATOR product this year, with the roll-out of our AI-driven co-pilot. The purpose of CREATOR has always been to put organizations in the driver’s seat when it comes to building their own gamified learning pathways. With generative AI, this is now even easier.
Think uploading a PDF of information and getting a bespoke set of engaging game-based learning modules based on that content at the click of a button. Or inputting learning and development video content in English and having it translated accurately into Mandarin in minutes.
With these advancements, we’re seeing the time taken to design, build, and roll out learning and development reduced to half or even a fifth of what it was before, taking laborious tasks off of L&D managers’ plates.
Users aren’t alone while using Attensi products, whether they’re learning in Attensi University or crafting content in Attensi CREATOR. Our advanced AI assistants support users by providing feedback and guidance as they work so they can get the most out of their Attensi journey.
Of course, we couldn’t talk about progress in agentic workflows without mentioning Attensi REALTALK. REALTALK is at the cutting edge of this technology, providing the first role-play training solution to allow users to have incredibly realistic, free-form conversations with with an AI-powered virtual human.
In a recent workplace survey, 72% of employees said they would welcome training on how to handle difficult conversations at work, and 53% said they would welcome AI training that would help them improve their human skills. REALTALK is positioned perfectly to provide high-quality role-play training scenarios on demand with personalized feedback, revolutionizing the future of agentic AI in learning and development.
Given the appetite for AI in the workplace (71% of Gen Z and 65% of millennials believe that AI will help them train to be better at their jobs), it seems unlikely that developments in generative AI will slow down as we move into 2025. In fact, we’re likely to see companies making even larger investments in AI to continue the pace at which it’s already advancing.
In terms of what this will look like, that’s really anyone’s guess. We could never have predicted the sci-fi movie levels that AI reached in 2024, and so only time will tell what advancements we’ll be reflecting on this time next year.
What we do know is that we’ll be here to lead the way towards better, faster, more powerful AI for greater impact in learning and development. Watch this space.
Author Upanishad Loomba Senior Customer Success Manager | Attensi
