Enterprise Deep Research: The Next Killer App for Enterprise AI — Ofer Mendelevitch, Vectara

This talk introduces Manus, an AI action engine designed to go beyond providing answers and instead execute tasks, automate workflows, and extend human capabilities. The presentation highlights the platform's evolution, including Manus 1.5, which offers increased speed and quality. Manus aims to be a general AI agent accessible through various interfaces like web applications, Slack, and a newly launched API, meeting users wherever they are.

The talk posits that the traditional Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is becoming obsolete, predicting that by 2026, most code will be generated by advanced AI systems overseen by engineers. This shift moves from current tools like code assistants, which are seen as powerful but potentially dangerous like power tools, towards more precise, automated systems akin to CNC machines. The core argument is that AI will fundamentally reshape technology organizations and the economy, enabling unprecedented productivity and new ways of building software.

This talk draws parallels between building self-driving cars and developing AI agents, emphasizing that agents, like robots, operate in complex environments and require more than just sophisticated models. The core thesis is that the 99% of work beyond the AI model—encompassing infrastructure, tooling, feedback loops, and robust offline stacks—is crucial for reliable agent development and deployment.

Poolside is developing AI models from scratch, focusing on pairing next-token prediction with reinforcement learning to bridge the gap between models and human intelligence. Their second-generation model, Malibu agent, is designed for high-consequence code environments, demonstrating capabilities in code conversion, testing, and feature implementation. The company emphasizes building foundational intelligence and scaling it, with plans for public API access and integration with platforms like Amazon Bedrock.

This talk argues that despite the rapid advancements in AI, the fundamental principles of building successful products remain unchanged. The speaker contends that AI does not inherently solve the core challenges of product development, such as capturing user attention, guiding them to a product's value, and retaining them long-term. Instead, these critical aspects still require human creativity, strategic thinking, and relentless execution.