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The open-source AI ecosystem for agents developers has exploded in the past few months. I've been testing dozens of new libraries, and honestly, it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of what actually works and what the state of the art is. So, I built an updated map of the tools that matter, the ones I'd actually reach for when building a new agent. The interesting pattern I'm seeing: we're moving past the "ChatGPT wrapper" phase into genuine infrastructure. The overview includes 40+ open-source packages across: → Agent orchestration frameworks that go beyond basic LLM wrappers: CrewAI for role-playing agents, AutoGPT for autonomous workflows, Langflow for visual agent building. → Tools for computer control and browser automation: Browser Use and Stagehand for LLM-friendly web navigation, Open Interpreter for local machine control, and Cua to control Mac environments. → Voice interaction capabilities beyond basic speech-to-text: Ultravox for real-time voice, Dia for natural TTS, Pipecat for complete voice agent stacks. → Memory systems that enable truly personalized experiences: Mem0 for self-improving memory, Letta for long-term context across sessions, LangMem for shared knowledge bases. → Testing and monitoring solutions for production-grade agents: AgentOps for benchmarking, Langfuse for LLM observability, VoiceLab for voice agent evaluation. Full breakdown with GitHub repos links https://lnkd.in/g3fntJVc

🧔🏽♂️ Design Patterns For AI Chat Interfaces. With practical guidelines on how to designing more useful, and less annoying AI chat ↓ 🚫 Nothing erodes trust more than disguised AI. 🤔 Often users dismiss AI chats almost instinctively. ✅ Users expect an option to “speak to human”. ✅ Be transparent about who users speak to. ✅ Wait for users to end a chat on their terms. ✅ Use separate avatars for AI bot and humans. ✅ Context changes over time: collapse older chats. ✅ Support pinning chats + highlight useful bits. ✅ Let users adjust granularity of reasoning traces. ✅ Allow users to restore iterations of canvases. ✅ Allow users to collapse chat without ending it. ✅ For long, complex tasks → full page screen. ✅ For multi-tasking, co-creation → side panel. ✅ For short, momentary tasks → chat widget. ✅ On mobile, full page AI chat works best. As many product teams race to not fall behind AI features in their products, we see AI chat interfaces becoming almost second nature every time AI initiative is launched. However, people have difficulty articulating intent in a chat, and good old UI controls — buttons, presets, radio buttons could help there. Nothing erodes trust more than an AI that desperately pretend to be a human. We might not be able to distinguish AI-generated content from human-crafted content, but human conversations differ significantly from AI chats — and there people spot the difference almost immediately: – People talk in quick bursts of text → AI is verbose (by default). – People can respond with 1–2 words → AI respond with sentences. – People never receive unfinished text → AI “streams” output live. – Messages can arrive unprompted → AI responds to prompts. – People have strong opinions → AI is apologetic, overcorrects itself Knowing that AI is on the other side isn’t really a problem — it’s what is required to build trust. And when people realize they talk to a chatbot, they are more direct, use “keyword” language, and avoid politeness markers. But when service does provide access to humans, it shows that company cares about customers. Human answer might not be accurate or swift, but it builds a much stronger relationship with the brand, especially when things go unexpected ways. 💎 Useful resources: Visa Design System: Chat UI Patterns https://lnkd.in/ewVjfr86 The Quest For Usable AI, by Michael Gower https://lnkd.in/eeq83btK Usable Chat Interfaces to AI Models, by Luke Wroblewski https://lnkd.in/d-Ssb5G7 UX Guidelines For Chat UX, by Raluca Budiu https://lnkd.in/e7-RErGE #ux #design

HR doesn’t need more dashboards. It needs better listening. Most people teams measure what’s easy…like engagement scores or turnover. But the best teams? They build feedback loops that help them predict problems, not just react to them. This post gives you 11 of the most useful, often-overlooked loops you can implement across the employee lifecycle: 🟢 Week 2 new hire check-ins (capture early impressions) 🟠 Post-interview surveys (from both sides) 🔵 Onboarding reviews (day 90 is your goldmine) 🟡 Skip-level 1:1s (cross-level truth-telling) 🟣 Quarterly team health check-ins (lightweight, manager-led) …and 7 more. 📌 Save this if: • You’re building a modern HR function • You want fewer “We should’ve seen this coming” moments • You believe listening is strategy Which feedback loop is missing in your company?

When you're deploying AI agents for a CX function, having a good Knowledge Base is a non-negotiable. Why? When optimized, it can empower your AI agents to deliver fast, accurate responses. When neglected, it can leave customers frustrated and agents underperforming. If you want to make sure your help center actually HELPS, here are 5 strategies you can deploy: 1. Structure your content in a Q&A format with clear headings and concise instructions to make it easy for both customers and AI to find relevant information. 2. Use precise keywords. If you have membership tiers, explicitly say which tier you're talking about. 3. Update content regularly with release dates for new features and remove outdated articles. 4. Use visuals (carefully). Reference images and annotations can improve usability—just make sure you have the bandwidth to keep them accurate. 5. Make agents accessible by providing a clear link to the AI agent channels for when customers need help beyond the answers available to them. A lot of companies view help centers as a nice-to-have but the truth is, the ROI is massive. And if you're thinking of using (or already use) AI agents for your customer support, you need to keep it well maintained so the agents can: → Identify knowledge gaps → Make suggestions to make your documentation easier to understand When your help center is optimized, AI agents can perform at their best, which translates to happier customers and less workload for your team. Read the full article for more strategies we recommend—link in the comments! 👇

Warning - potentially upsetting logistics sales post from a logistics managers point of view... As a logistics manager I regularly receive multiple sales calls per day. I know from experience that sales teams in freight forwarding work hard to win new customers, you are all legends in your own right. Cold calls, emails, meetings - it all takes time and effort to bring new business on board. I've been in logistics a long time so I genuinely like speaking to logistics companys, I have worked with most, but I can't work with everyone all the time. First and foremost I have to manage the logistics needs of the company. So, this can mean, if things aren't working out, we need to see other people. It's not me, its you. So what goes wrong? Here are a few things that can lose you business. ❌ The wrong approach to problem solving I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been told over the years, "If you have a problem, call me." It sounds like a perfectly reasonable request but surely that’s the wrong way around? If something goes wrong, I shouldn’t need to chase you - you should be calling me. Be proactive - jump on issues immediately and update your customers. I'd be happier hearing "there's a problem but I'm on it" over "I didn't know there was a problem, I'll get on it" ❌ Lack of proactive updates My team or I shouldn’t have to chase you for shipment updates. If we are always the ones chasing then we will soon become frustrated. Be proactive - look at implementing automatic updates. As a customer I'd rather have more updates than I need than be left in the dark. ❌ Ignoring small issues until they become big problems A minor delay or documentation error, if handled well, is usually forgivable. But silence? Well that damages trust and confidence. Be proactive - be the person who gets stuff done. Can't resolve it yourself? escalate it to someone who can. Show you are doing everything you can to get it resolved and provide regular feedback. Even if nothing has changed - a call to say you are still on it can put your customer's mind at ease. ❌ No relationship, just transactions If the only contact we get is an invoice, we will start wondering if we are valued at all. Stay in touch - a regular friendly call or email, even just to say "hello, everything going ok?" can help build rapport and give the customer an opportunity to mention any niggles they have for you to resolve. Its sounds like you are generating work but what you are really doing is giving reassurance and building confidence in you and your service. Your customers will appreciate it. Remember: winning new business is important, but retention is where profits are made. Keeping a customer engaged with good communication, reliability and a personal touch is far easier than replacing them. How do you keep your customers loyal? Let me know below 👇 #logistics #logisticsmanagement #freightforwarding #sales #customerservice #supplychain

There is absolutely no point in gathering feedback from employees without creating feedback loops and USING feedback to inform improvement. WHAT IS AN EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK LOOP❓ An employee #feedbackloop is just one of many feedback loops in organizations. It is a structured process where people provide input or comments about their work experiences, job satisfaction, or performance, and this #feedback is used by the organization to make improvements, enhance employee engagement, and create a better working environment. That last part is where many organizations fall down... they don't USE feedback to inform improvements. This is a huge missed opportunity!! Employee feedback is a powerful way for organizations to identify improvement areas. Also, when people see that they are taken seriously, they feel heard and valued, and this feeling can significantly enhance engagement and job satisfaction. There is a real danger in asking for people's feedback and then ignoring it...or failing to acknowledge it. People lose engagement and trust... slowly they stop giving feedback.... and the organization struggles to improve. 💥 CREATING FEEDBACK LOOPS 💥 If you are thinking of creating/improving your employee feedback loops, here are some high-level steps to guide you: 1️⃣ Identify the type of feedback required 2️⃣ Select Feedback Methods 3️⃣ Regularly Collect the Feedback 4️⃣ Analyze and Share Results 5️⃣ Take Action 6️⃣ Follow Up 7️⃣ Track Progress: 8️⃣ Celebrate Successes 9️⃣ Iterate and Improve: Every single one of these 9 steps are important. And not very difficult. All it takes is good leadership and organization. Remember that feedback should not be a once-off effort. It is important to aim towards creating a feedback culture, where regularly giving and receiving feedback is encouraged and valued. Consistency is key! _______________________________________ I'm Catherine McDonald- Lean Business and Leadership Coach. Follow me for insights on Lean, Leadership, Coaching, Strategy and Organizational Behaviour

Customer service can indeed be a challenging role, often leading to frustration for both the service provider and the customer. However, with the right approach and mindset, it can be transformed into a pleasant and genuinely productive experience. Here are some strategies to make that happen: 1. Active Listening: This is crucial. Pay close attention to what the customer is saying, and acknowledge their concerns. This helps in understanding the issue better and also makes the customer feel heard and valued. 2. Empathy and Understanding: Put yourself in the customer’s shoes. Responding with empathy can diffuse tension and build a connection, leading to more constructive interactions. 3. Clear Communication: Use simple, jargon-free language. Clear communication reduces misunderstandings and makes solutions more accessible. 4. Patience: Sometimes, customers might be upset or confused. Exhibiting patience can calm a heated situation and lead to better problem-solving. 5. Positive Attitude: A positive demeanor can set the tone for the entire interaction. Even in challenging situations, a positive approach can lead to more satisfactory outcomes. 6. Knowledge and Resources: Be well-informed about your product or service. This instills confidence in the customer and enables you to provide accurate and helpful information. 7. Feedback Implementation: Take customer feedback seriously. It’s a goldmine for improving service quality and shows customers that their opinions are valued. 8. Follow-up: A follow-up after resolving an issue can leave a lasting positive impression. It shows dedication and commitment to customer satisfaction. By integrating these practices into everyday customer service interactions, not only can the job become more enjoyable, but it also paves the way for building lasting customer relationships and a positive brand image.

The biggest marketing arbitrage for brands right now? Building a cross-channel creator community. If you're on TikTok Shop, this means launching a DTC creator affiliate community and pushing those affiliates to repurpose their content across all channels. Here's how to do it, even if you're not planning to scale big from the start: Base level - Protect your investment + boost performance: 1. Set up with Superfiliate or Social Snowball if you're a Shopify brand on TikTok Shop. 2. Create a Discord channel for all creators to protect against platform disruptions. 3. Give affiliates unique discount codes or links. 4. Coach them to share TikTok content on IG Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Meta Reels. This multiplies impressions, engagement, and sales without additional product seeding. But that's just the beginning... Advanced - Scaling your cross-channel community: 1. Build monthly influencer lists of 4k+ creators on Instagram and YouTube. 2. Use tools like Saral and Onsocial for sourcing. 3. Filter for followers (2k-100k) and engagement rate (2%+). 4. Use cold email software for outreach at scale. 5. Set up a 3-step email sequence with an auto-reply for interested influencers. 6. Seed product to new influencers. 7. Create an onboarding flow with Klaviyo, including a welcome challenge. 8. Invite active creators to your Discord. 9. Push Instagram and YouTube affiliates to create TikTok Shop content / and vise versa 10. Use your community as a content engine for UGC and partnership ads. This strategy onboards 100+ new opt-ins monthly to your DTC affiliate program with minimal friction. It's the direction we're pushing our clients to increase affiliate performance while protecting against potential platform disruptions. Remember, it's all about maximizing your reach and minimizing risk. Cross-channel is the future.

The magic isn't just in HAVING warm audiences—it's in knowing HOW to enrich and activate them strategically across platforms. Here are some interesting examples you might not have considered. 1. Companies Engaging with Your Ads • Capture companies clicking on your LinkedIn ads • Enrich with prospect data • Expand targeting to the entire buying committee 2. ABM List Enhancement • Start with your account-based marketing list • Enrich with decision-maker data • Target full buying committees, not just primary contacts 3. Leverage Profile Engagement • Identify good-fit personal profile viewers & company page followers • Enrich with complete contact data • Expand to reach multiple stakeholders at each company 4. Web Visitor Identification • Use web identification tools to capture visiting companies • Enrich with prospect intelligence • Expand outreach to all relevant decision-makers 4. Pipeline Acceleration • Focus on companies already in your sales pipeline • Enrich with additional prospect data • Surround the buying committee with consistent messaging CROSS-CHANNEL ACTIVATION: The real power comes when you OWN these enriched audiences and activate them consistently across: A. LinkedIn ads B. Programmatic display, native image, native video, CTV, Audio C. Facebook/Meta ads D. LinkedIn connection campaigns E. Personalized email sequences This orchestrated approach creates a "surround sound" effect that significantly shortens sales cycles and increases conversion rates. What's working in your B2B audience strategy? Are you leveraging enrichment across all your warm audience segments? More resources + frameworks here - https://lnkd.in/gB-WQ82f #B2BMarketing #AudienceStrategy #ABM #MarTech #RevenueTech

User Feedback Loops: the missing piece in AI success? AI is only as good as the data it learns from -- but what happens after deployment? Many businesses focus on building AI products but miss a critical step: ensuring their outputs continue to improve with real-world use. Without a structured feedback loop, AI risks stagnating, delivering outdated insights, or losing relevance quickly. Instead of treating AI as a one-and-done solution, companies need workflows that continuously refine and adapt based on actual usage. That means capturing how users interact with AI outputs, where it succeeds, and where it fails. At Human Managed, we’ve embedded real-time feedback loops into our products, allowing customers to rate and review AI-generated intelligence. Users can flag insights as: 🔘Irrelevant 🔘Inaccurate 🔘Not Useful 🔘Others Every input is fed back into our system to fine-tune recommendations, improve accuracy, and enhance relevance over time. This is more than a quality check -- it’s a competitive advantage. - for CEOs & Product Leaders: AI-powered services that evolve with user behavior create stickier, high-retention experiences. - for Data Leaders: Dynamic feedback loops ensure AI systems stay aligned with shifting business realities. - for Cybersecurity & Compliance Teams: User validation enhances AI-driven threat detection, reducing false positives and improving response accuracy. An AI model that never learns from its users is already outdated. The best AI isn’t just trained -- it continuously evolves.