Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving from standalone large language models to specialized multi-agent systems that collaborate to achieve complex outcomes. Google’s Introduction to Agents whitepaper suggests businesses will utilize numerous specialized agents for various tasks, improving efficiency in areas like procurement and compliance. This shift introduces serious legal challenges; agents can autonomously make decisions, prompting the need for clear governance frameworks. Key considerations include agent actions, data sharing, and necessary human oversight. The case of Amazon vs. Perplexity illustrates the potential legal complexities of agent-facilitated actions, highlighting questions around automation and compliance. To navigate this new AI landscape, businesses should establish agent governance frameworks, draft explicit contracts, and implement robust audit mechanisms. Embracing these multi-agent systems offers transformative efficiencies for both legacy and new organizations, but requires careful planning in governance and compliance strategies to avoid legal pitfalls and align with business risk tolerances.
