How AI Agents Actually Think: Planning, Memory, and Feedback That Saves You Hours
Data & AI with Mukundan | Learn AI by Building · Mukundan Sankar – Practical AI & Analytics
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Show Notes
AI agents are everywhere in the headlines — but what do they really do? In this episode of Data & AI with Mukundan, we cut through the hype and explain, in plain language, how AI agents actually think.
You’ll learn the three key ingredients that separate real agents from chatbots:
- Planning: breaking big goals into concrete steps
- Memory: remembering context so actions feel consistent
- Feedback: adjusting when things go wrong instead of collapsing
I also walk through a live demo where an AI agent triages my Google Calendar and Gmail inbox. You’ll hear exactly how it proposes deep-work sessions, admin blocks, and even a workout — all while avoiding conflicts and asking for my approval before making changes.
To make this practical, I include a true/false quiz to test your instincts and a set of discussion prompts to help you imagine how agents could save you hours in real life.
By the end of this episode, you’ll know:
- How to tell the difference between a chatbot, automation, and a real AI agent
- Why most flashy demos online fail in practice
- How to build your first mini-agent with just one tool and a simple feedback loop
- Why agents only matter if they give you back time and focus
If you’ve ever wished for an assistant to handle your messy inbox, your cluttered schedule, or your repetitive tasks, this episode will show you how AI agents can actually do it. No buzzwords, no sci-fi — just practical, useful AI that you can build today.
Links & Resources
- Today's Demo: Here
- Quiz: Here
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- Research Tools: Sider.ai (affiliate)
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- Website: Data & AI with Mukundan
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- LinkedIn: Mukundan Sankar
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