Episode Summary:
Jacky Koh, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Relevance AI, has been building AI agents long before they became the hottest trend of 2025. Fresh off their Series B raise, Relevance AI is on a mission to democratise access to AI agents, making them easy to build for everyone, not just engineers. In this conversation, Jacky unpacks why most “AI agents” today are just glorified workflows, how real multi-agent systems will power the future of business automation, and why Australia needs to think bigger if it wants to compete globally. Plus, he shares the origin story of Relevance AI’s iconic pixel-art agents, how he leads calmly under pressure, and his spicy predictions for AI’s next black swan event.
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Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Who is Jacky Koh & What is Relevance AI?
03:26 – Why AI Agents Aren’t Just for Developers Anymore
05:42 – Should You Still Study Software Engineering in the Age of AI?
12:24 – The Origin Story of Relevance AI and Their Pivot to Agents
14:16 – What People Get Wrong About AI Agents (Single vs. Multi-Agent Systems)
17:43 – Are Most AI Agents Just Glorified Workflows?
19:25 – Why Relevance AI Uses Pixel Characters (Hint: Pokémon Fans Will Love This)
23:41 – How Jacky Manages Stress and Crisis Moments as a Founder
28:37 – Building a Global Business: The Difference Between Aussie & U.S. Investors
34:47 – How Founders Should Pick AI Models and Avoid Lock-In
40:51 – Jacky’s Hot Take: The One Black Swan AI Event We Might See This Year
47:02 – How to Keep AI Agents Ethical
50:51 – Rapid Fire: Silicon Valley Myths, Scary AI Headlines & Favourite Pokémon
