AI Agents, when discussed on podcasts by tech “bros” and execs, seem to forget that most people are price sensitive. When booking a flight, we take into account cost, travel time, whether or not we’re a morning person, a meeting we need to make that’s not in the diary (texted a mate to catch up). If it’s reading that as well. I don’t want an Agent booking me something that on paper looks the best, but is £200 more than it could be with a small trade off.
Plus, these execs all have Executive Assistants that act as the abstraction layer already. This is maybe why it feels like a no brainer to them. They already share their lives with these people, why not share the same with an AI??
I don't see how that's a technological problem? It's certainly a social problem (your agent's provider might have a deal with airlines / hotels to gouge you), but there's no inherent reason why an agent couldn't be price sensitive, either. After all, it's just an optimisation problem, and the field of AI famously knows a thing or two about those ;)
Plus, these execs all have Executive Assistants that act as the abstraction layer already. This is maybe why it feels like a no brainer to them. They already share their lives with these people, why not share the same with an AI??