You’re Not Ready for AI Agents (Yet): Here’s What You Need First | Ep 218 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis is joined by Ima Miri, an award-winning AI strategist, Founder & CEO of AI Point, and Tech Founder of TradeWize. With over 20 years’ experience in software engineering and AI innovation, Ima brings a wealth of practical insight into how generative AI is transforming the way modern businesses operate. She has worked with leading global organisations and governments to integrate AI into business operations and shares her expert take on how to implement AI agents effectively and sustainably. From foundational readiness to forward-looking applications in finance, this episode explores the real-world complexities of AI adoption and why the hype doesn’t always match the current state of the tech.

Throughout the conversation, Ima highlights one of the most common challenges she encounters—businesses eager to adopt AI without the operational maturity to support it. Many organisations assume AI agents are plug-and-play solutions capable of automating entire processes overnight. Ima explains that a successful rollout requires realistic expectations, clean and structured data, and a scalable cloud infrastructure. Her process begins with an AI readiness and maturity assessment, followed by a clear implementation roadmap, akin to the steps taken during digital transformation or cloud migration initiatives.

Anthony and Ima also discuss the limitations of low-code and no-code platforms like Zapier and Make. While these tools are effective for rapid prototyping, they often struggle with scalability, testing environments, and customisation—especially in industries with complex regulatory needs. Ima explains that AI Point offers both pre-built and fully customised agents, with the latter offering significantly more value in long-term strategic alignment. Anthony reinforces the point by noting that businesses relying solely on off-the-shelf solutions risk losing their unique edge by conforming to standardised workflows.

One of the standout examples Ima shares is from her work on TradeWize.com, a startup applying generative AI to stock and crypto trading. Unlike traditional trading bots, the agents developed here are designed to support decision-making through real-time insights, rather than executing trades. It’s a fresh and empowering application of AI that respects the regulatory boundaries of the financial sector while still enhancing user strategy and confidence. Ima also touches on another high-impact use case—an agent built to generate code aligned with an organisation’s existing codebase, helping developer teams stay consistent and compliant while boosting productivity.

As the episode draws to a close, Ima reflects on her goals for the year ahead: expanding the reach of AI Point, helping more businesses become AI-native, and launching TradeWize into the market. She’s passionate about building agent-based systems that integrate seamlessly into existing operations and offer tangible value from day one. Anthony wraps up by encouraging listeners to connect with Ima through the AI Point website or directly via email, especially if they’re ready to explore custom AI solutions. The episode is a compelling look at what it really takes to bring AI into production—beyond the buzzwords and into practical, transformative deployment.

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