In a significant development for enterprise technology, Serval, an innovative AI company, has successfully raised $47 million in a Series A funding round. This round was spearheaded by Redpoint Ventures, with additional investments from prominent venture capital firms such as First Round, General Catalyst, and Box Group. Beyond the impressive roster of investors, Serval boasts a clientele that includes leading AI organizations like Perplexity, Mercor, and Together AI.
Serval’s mission is to transform IT service management by integrating agentic AI models to automate routine tasks. Their distinctive strategy involves deploying two specialized AI agents: one dedicated to creating internal automations for tasks like software authorization and device provisioning, and another focused on responding to user requests by utilizing these tools as needed. This dual-agent system ensures that while the AI handles the bulk of the work, human oversight remains integral to the process.
Jake Stauch, CEO of Serval, emphasizes the importance of simplifying the automation process. He states, We aim to make automating a task permanently more straightforward than performing it manually even once. By dividing responsibilities between two agents—one for tool creation and another for tool utilization—Serval provides IT managers with enhanced control over permissions and operations.
The design of Serval’s system addresses potential risks associated with autonomous AI operations. For instance, if a user were to request a critical action like deleting company data, the AI agent would recognize the absence of such a tool and instead offer assistance with permitted tasks, such as password resets. This approach ensures that only predefined, secure actions are executed, mitigating the risk of unintended or harmful operations.
Furthermore, the deterministic nature of Serval’s tools allows for the implementation of intricate permission structures. Actions can be restricted based on multi-factor authentication requirements or specific time frames, adding layers of security. Whenever there’s a need to modify these rules, the AI agent is equipped to update the codebase accordingly, ensuring that the system remains adaptable and secure.
Serval’s innovative approach offers a solution to the common challenge of managing agentic AI systems. Stauch highlights the importance of transparency and control, stating, It’s crucial to have complete visibility into the actions of the AI agent. With Serval, managers can build tools and customize permissions and approvals to maintain oversight.
