AI Agent
An AI that doesn't just answer, but takes actions step by step to complete a goal.
In everyday terms
Ask an agent to "book a table for four on Friday" and it might search restaurants, check availability and fill in the booking form, checking its progress as it goes.
For professionals
An LLM in a loop: plan, call tools, observe results, repeat until done. Reliability, permissions and oversight are the key challenges.
Think of it like…
The difference between a consultant who gives advice and an assistant who actually does the errands.
You've already seen it
Coding assistants that edit files and run tests, browser agents, "deep research" features.
Myth vs reality
Myth: Agents work fully unsupervised and never need checking.
Reality: They can go off track. Good designs keep humans in the loop for important actions.
Quick check
What makes an AI an "agent" rather than a chatbot?
- It is bigger
- It takes actions using tools toward a goal
- It has a name
- It uses emojis
Show answer
It takes actions using tools toward a goal: Agents act, not just answer.