AI Agents: Half are just 'if-then' statements with hefty GPU bills
·2 min read·Beginner
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We picture AI agents as brilliant minds. Yet, many are just simple 'if-then' rules draining our wallets.
In 30 seconds
01Half of AI agents in production are simple 'if-then' rules, not complex intelligences.
02These basic systems incur high GPU costs, wasting valuable resources and money.
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What this means for you
For you, this means many "AI solutions" you encounter aren't as smart as they appear. We're spending a lot on simple automations, and ultimately, you're footing the bill.
Thought giving an AI a tool was enough? Apparently not. The ToolTrap project shows AI agents struggle to interpret results.
·2 min·Intermediate
03A new technical debt emerges: costly solutions deployed for problems that don't need them.
0101
AI Agents: What Are They Really?
Many "AI agents" in action today aren't artificial masterminds. They are often just a series of simple instructions, the classic "if this, then that" rules. Imagine a bot replying "Hello" if it detects the word "hello." It's not magic, it's basic logic.
The issue is these small automations often run on expensive infrastructure, like servers with powerful GPUs. It's akin to using a supercomputer for grocery shopping. Dimitris Kouzis-Loukas highlighted this waste on Dev.to in 2024.
This approach creates a new type of technical debt. It doesn't come from poorly written code, but from an overzealous embrace of AI, leading to oversized solutions. The urge to label everything "AI" is strong, but sometimes it's overkill.
0202
Why Are We Spending So Much on "If-Then"?
The cost stems from GPUs. Even simple code, if run on a server with high-end graphics cards (or worse, data center ones), drives up the bill. These resources are designed for complex computations, not trivial conditional checks.
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Companies try to deploy AI everywhere, even where simple automation would suffice. They run these "agents" as if they were complex models, consuming energy and money. It's a bit like buying a tractor to plow your balcony garden. Isn't that somewhat absurd?
This trend leads to significant waste. Companies pay for licenses, rent powerful servers, and consume electricity, all for results achievable with far less effort and expense. Do we really need to burn money like that?
0303
How to Tell Real AI from the Fakes?
The solution isn't to eliminate agents, but to use them judiciously. If a task is repetitive and follows fixed rules, a simple "if-then" script is perfectly fine. There's no need to call on Artificial Intelligence for that.
Real AI comes into play when learning, adaptation, or sophisticated natural language understanding is needed. Here, complex models are essential, and GPUs make sense. Google, for example, uses true AI for complex searches.
So, we need to be more honest with ourselves and our budgets. Carefully assess if a problem genuinely requires a complex or if a leaner, less costly solution will suffice. Sometimes, common sense beats the hype.
NUOVO
