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ZDNET's key takeaways
Microsoft studied interactions between AI customers and vendors.
Most agents failed to resist manipulation and make wise choices.
The results underscore the dangers of an AI agent-run economy.
As you've probably noticed, there's been a lot of hype circulating around AI agents and their supposed potential to transform the economy and human labor by automating routine, time-consuming tasks. A growing body of research, however, shows that agents fall short in elementary ways, indicating that they're probably not ready for primetime just yet.
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New research from Microsoft found that industry-leading agentic AI tools struggle to interact with one another to complete basic marketplace decisions, like choosing a restaurant by comparing menu offerings and prices. Researchers also found most agents fell for manipulation attempts, including prompt injections and misleading information. These agents failed consistently, though, meaning the research could provide a blueprint for AI companies to address those flaws moving forward.
A test marketplace
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