Happy Path Programming #112 AI Agents Get More 9's with Rod Johnson
Jul 2, 2025
Rod Johnson, creator of the Spring Framework and the AI Agent framework Embabel, shares insights on developing reliable AI agents for enterprises. He discusses how deterministic planning and domain-driven orchestration can enhance AI reliability. The conversation covers the transformative impact of AI on the tech landscape, the importance of structured programming methodologies, and how effective agent orchestration can utilize Kotlin and Java to streamline complex processes. Johnson emphasizes the role of human oversight in maximizing generative AI's potential.
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LLM Reliability Limits
- General-purpose LLMs still have about 90% reliability, with 10% hallucination.
- This makes them unsuitable for serious business apps that demand higher reliability levels.
Deterministic Planning Innovation
- Embabel uses deterministic planning with non-LLM AI algorithms for agent orchestration.
- This method ensures consistent, adaptable plans by using goals, actions, and preconditions.
Planning Beats Fixed Workflows
- Agent orchestration with static workflows is inflexible and expensive to change.
- Deterministic planning offers more autonomy and adaptability for complex flows.