Introducing LLeMental

Everyone is talking about AI agents these days.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of AI agents, picture something like ChatGPT—but instead of simply engaging in Q&A with you, they take actions (navigating to websites, querying databases, etc.) to complete a task. A key differentiator between AI agents and non-agents is that agents make their own decisions about how a task should be completed, instead of following a predefined set of steps. In other words, what makes agents agents is that they exhibit a bit of agency.

But is this a good thing?

At this point, I believe the answer is still “No.”

Watching a computer come alive, as can be seen in OpenAI’s Operator demo, is undeniably impressive. That said, as the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week, the lack of reliability and other risks associated with self-piloting AI systems are preventing CEOs from adopting these tools.

In my opinion, the AI industry’s growing enthusiasm about AI agents over the past year could use a reset. Large Language Models—the building blocks of modern AI software, including agents—have the potential to unlock tremendous value from existing business systems on their own, without needing to make the leap to fully autonomous, self-piloting agent systems.

Enter LLeMental (“elemental”) Systems.

At LLeMental, we’re focused on working with Large Language Models to build simple, productive AI apps for your business. Our goal is to help you extend your existing systems and processes with AI, instead of telling you to replace them altogether with agents.

Our focus over the coming months will be on the following opportunities:

Addressing the growing demand for robotic process automation (RPA) for repetitive, template-based work such as creating presentations and responses to RFPs Integrating our products with established tools like Zapier and the Microsoft Office ecosystem Continuing to ask important questions in a weekly editorial newsletter about the industry. If you’ve read this far, you should subscribe. It’s going to be great.

If you want to keep up, you can follow the LLeMental Systems (formerly Stele & Rivers Group) LinkedIn page, subscribe to Automato, or check out our website to learn more.

We hope to work with you!

-Sam Reed, Cofounder