In recent years, robotic process automation (RPA) was a hot topic in enterprise software, aiming to streamline repetitive business tasks. However, RPA often fell short of expectations. The emergence of generative AI could be the key to achieving the automation RPA promised. Seattle-based startup Tektonic is at the forefront of this new wave, leveraging generative AI alongside traditional methods to revolutionize business operations.
Tektonic, which has been operating in stealth mode, announced its $10 million seed funding round led by Point72 Ventures and Madrona Ventures. The company aims to enable users to create workflow automations using natural language through GenAI agents.
Innovative Approach to Workflow Automation
One primary application highlighted by Tektonic is the automation of quotes and renewals, processes typically involving numerous manual tasks. Each business often has unique and dynamic procedures, making automation challenging.
Tektonic was co-founded by Nic Surpatanu, a veteran with leadership experience at Tanium, UiPath, and Microsoft. Surpatanu realized that generative AI unlocks new software scenarios that were previously unattainable. “Based on what I learned at UiPath and Microsoft, I know how far you can push traditional automation,” Surpatanu explained. He emphasized that generative AI should not be treated as a standalone solution but rather combined with symbolic methods and traditional software for optimal results.
Generative AI offers adaptability and a deeper understanding of user intent, which RPA tools often lack. Traditional RPA tools can break with any significant user interface changes, requiring ongoing maintenance. In contrast, generative AI can dynamically adjust to context and user intent, enhancing the flexibility and scope of automation.
Surpatanu noted that while Tektonic’s approach won’t achieve 100% flexibility immediately, it significantly broadens the range of scenarios that can be automated. He acknowledged that current AI models aren’t yet reliable enough for fully autonomous agents, so human oversight will remain essential. However, even increasing automation from 50% to 80% of a process is a considerable advancement.
Technical Foundation and Future Prospects
Tektonic utilizes a blend of foundation models and open models for entity extraction and lower-level actions. This combination allows for sophisticated task orchestration and reasoning across data silos within applications.
Madrona’s Steve Singh, Ted Kummert, and Palak Goel highlighted the potential of generative AI to transform process automation, enabling AI-based agents to perform tasks traditionally handled manually. This shift allows sales reps and other professionals to focus more on customer interactions and less on routine administrative tasks.
Tektonic is in its nascent stages, working with design partners to refine its system. Surpatanu envisions Tektonic evolving into a SaaS company within the next three to five years, offering seamless API integrations. For now, businesses can get started by installing Tektonic as a container in their virtual private cloud.
See also: Google Develops AI Tool To Aid Coral Reef Conservation
