Seattle AI Consultant

Category: Agentic AI

  • 5 No-Code Tools for Creating AI Agents (Without a Developer)

    5 No-Code Tools for Creating AI Agents (Without a Developer)

    Small businesses are under pressure to adopt AI—but the idea of “building an AI agent” still sounds like something only a Fortune 500 company could afford. Most small teams can’t hire an engineer, let alone a full-on AI consultant. That’s where no-code tools come in.

    But first—what exactly is an AI agent? In simple terms, it’s an automated system powered by artificial intelligence that can perform tasks on your behalf. It might answer customer questions, help you generate content, route internal requests, or research leads—often using large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or Claude. The magic is that these agents can “reason” through steps, follow logic, and sometimes even call tools or APIs—all without human involvement.

    Today, a growing number of platforms let you create these kinds of agents without needing to code. Whether you want a chatbot, a writing assistant, or a sales research agent, these tools are lowering the barrier for non-developers to join the AI conversation.

    Here are five standout tools I’ve come across that make AI agents more accessible—without writing a single line of code.

    Relevance.ai – Build Agents That Think with Your Data

    Relevance.ai (recently in the news) is probably the most business-focused tool on this list. It lets you create what’s called a “retrieval-augmented generation” (RAG) agent—basically, an AI assistant that can search your documents or CRM and give relevant answers. You don’t need to know anything about embeddings or vector databases to use it. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to build agents that help with lead research, customer insights, or internal support.

    If you’re a small business sitting on a pile of proposals, slide decks, or support docs and wondering how to get value out of them, this is worth a look.

    Writer.com – Enterprise-Grade AI, No Coding Required

    Writer is like having a ChatGPT that actually knows (and respects) your brand. It’s built for larger teams, but it’s still accessible even if you’re a small shop. You can upload your tone, voice, policies, and internal docs—then use its AI to generate content that stays compliant and on-brand. It’s a no-code platform, and the interface is friendly to non-technical users.

    I see this as especially valuable for regulated industries (like finance or healthcare), or for anyone who’s tired of re-editing AI output to match your company’s voice.

    MindStudio – Visual Builder for Multi-Step AI Workflows

    MindStudio is one of the most approachable full-agent builders I’ve seen. You get a visual canvas where you can drag in large language model blocks, user inputs, logic, and even webhooks or APIs—without coding. It’s ideal for building internal tools, customer-facing bots, or productivity agents.

    What I like here is the balance between power and simplicity. If you want to build an AI that takes a user’s input, checks for conditions, and returns an intelligent response—or routes something to a spreadsheet—this is the one to try.

    Magick ML – A Low-Code Platform for Building Autonomous Agents

    Magick ML is probably the most flexible platform here, and with that comes a slightly steeper learning curve. It’s a low-code platform for building autonomous agents that can chain multiple steps, use memory, and access tools. You’ll need some familiarity with concepts like agent orchestration, chaining, or prompt design—but you don’t absolutely need to write code. But if you don’t code, you won’t get the most out of it.

    It’s great for builders who want deep customization without having to touch Python. I see it appealing to advanced no-coders, AI freelancers, or businesses that want custom functionality without hiring a dev team.

    Poe by Quora – Dead-Simple Bot Creation

    Poe is the most lightweight option here, and that’s not a bad thing. If you want to create a chatbot that answers specific types of questions or interacts in a certain voice, you can do it in minutes—literally. Just set a prompt and pick a model (like GPT-4 or Claude), and you’re off.

    It’s not built for complex agents or tool use, but for simple customer Q&A bots, internal knowledge assistants, or educational bots, Poe makes it dead simple.

    Wrapping Up

    I haven’t explored every one of these tools in depth yet, but I’m excited to dive into them more—especially as more of my clients start asking for affordable ways to bring AI into their day-to-day operations. You don’t need a full engineering team to get started. These platforms prove that with the right tool, a bit of curiosity, and a clear use case, you can build real AI functionality into your business—without breaking the bank.

    Have you tried any of these yet? I’d love to hear what you’re building.

  • Why Measuring AI’s Ability to Complete Long Tasks Matters — and What It Means for Businesses

    Why Measuring AI’s Ability to Complete Long Tasks Matters — and What It Means for Businesses

    When most people think about AI progress, they think about big, flashy moments: an AI winning a chess match, generating a song, or answering a complicated trivia question in seconds. But if you run a business, you know real success doesn’t come from a single clever move. It comes from sticking with a project — handling complexity over days, even weeks.

    That’s why I found a recent study from METR (Model Evaluation and Testing for Reliability) so interesting.
    They’re proposing a new way to measure AI progress: not just by what it can do in a few seconds, but by how well it can complete long tasks — projects that require persistence, multi-step planning, and adjustment over time.

    And here’s the kicker: according to METR and a follow-up article on LiveScience, today’s leading AIs are doubling their ability to handle longer, more complex tasks every few months. That’s a staggering pace of improvement. It suggests we’re going to see a whole new class of AI tools emerging much sooner than most people expect.

    How this shift affects small businesses

    For small businesses like yours and mine, this is going to be a big deal.

    Until now, most AI tools have been good at short bursts of work — drafting an email, creating a quick graphic, answering a single customer service question. Helpful, sure, but limited.
    But now? We’re starting to see AI agents that can manage entire workflows over long stretches of time without needing someone to check in every few minutes.

    Think about it:

    • An AI that runs your social media campaigns for weeks, tweaking ads based on live performance.
    • A digital assistant that walks new customers through onboarding, following up over days or even weeks without dropping the ball.
    • An operations bot that watches over your inventory, spots issues early, and coordinates with suppliers automatically.

    This isn’t science fiction anymore. It’s on the horizon, and fast.

    For small businesses — especially those stretched thin on staff and time — this could be transformational. You’ll be able to automate not just simple tasks, but entire processes that used to eat up your team’s time and energy.

    What small business owners should be thinking about now

    If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, I think there are a few smart moves you can make right now:

    1. Stay informed.
    Start paying attention to how AI companies are talking about long-task performance, not just instant results. It’s going to become a critical differentiator.

    2. Start experimenting with longer workflows.
    Even today’s tools can often string together a series of steps — whether that’s using Make.com for automations, or integrating an AI into your CRM. Starting small now means you’ll be better prepared as the tools get stronger.

    3. Work with people who understand both AI and real-world business.
    Setting up long-running AI agents isn’t going to be “set it and forget it.” You’ll need guidance on setting goals, monitoring results, and adjusting over time.

    In short: The future of AI isn’t just about speed. It’s about endurance. It’s about the ability to actually complete what you started — reliably, thoughtfully, and over the long haul.

    And the small businesses that understand this shift early are the ones that will be leading the pack in a few years.

  • Why Agentic AI Could Be Your Small Business’s Next Big Thing

    Why Agentic AI Could Be Your Small Business’s Next Big Thing

    Hey there, small business owners! Let’s chat about something that’s buzzing in the tech world and could be a game-changer for you: agentic AI.

    According to the AI Glossary, agentic AI refers to:

    Artificial intelligence systems that can autonomously plan, make decisions, and take actions toward achieving specific goals—often with minimal human intervention. Unlike traditional AI models that respond only to direct prompts or inputs, agentic AI exhibits goal-directed behavior, adapting its actions based on the environment, feedback, and outcomes.

    So, why should you care about agentic AI?

    1. Boosting Efficiency: Imagine automating those repetitive tasks that eat up your time. Agentic AI can handle complex processes, freeing you and your team to focus on what truly matters—like growing your business.
    2. Enhancing Customer Experience: With the ability to understand and anticipate customer needs, agentic AI can provide personalized interactions. Think of AI-powered chatbots that handle inquiries swiftly and accurately, keeping your customers happy and engaged.
    3. Scalability on a Budget: As your business expands, agentic AI scales with you without the hefty costs. It manages increased workloads efficiently, ensuring consistent performance without breaking the bank.
    4. Smarter Decision-Making: By analyzing vast amounts of data in real-time, agentic AI offers insights that help you make informed decisions quickly. In today’s fast-paced market, this agility is a significant advantage.

    Before you dive in, here are a few things to consider:

    • Data Security: Protecting sensitive information is crucial. Ensure you have robust security measures in place to safeguard your data.
    • Ethical Use: Transparency in how AI makes decisions builds trust with your customers. Be open about AI’s role in your operations.
    • Cost vs. Benefit: Assess where agentic AI can make the most impact in your business to ensure a good return on investment.

    In a nutshell, agentic AI is on the horizon, poised to transform how small businesses operate. By embracing this technology thoughtfully, you can enhance efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and scale your operations effectively. Stay tuned—exciting developments are coming your way!