Agent

An AI agent is an autonomous software system designed to achieve a specific goal by observing its environment, reasoning about available information, making decisions, and taking actions. Unlike a traditional chatbot, an agent does not simply respond to a prompt. It can plan and execute multi-step tasks, use external tools and APIs, retrieve information, interact with other systems, and adapt its actions based on the results it receives.

An agent typically operates within a defined role and set of objectives. It may have access to memory, databases, web search, specialized tools, and other agents. This allows it to turn a high-level instruction into a sequence of concrete actions and continue working until the desired outcome is reached or human intervention is required.

Agents can also evaluate their own work, detect failures, retry operations, and request additional information when necessary. Multiple specialized agents can work together as a coordinated workflow, with each agent handling a particular responsibility such as research, analysis, writing, reviewing, coding, or publishing.

The key distinction is action. An AI agent is not merely generating text or providing advice. It is software capable of reasoning, deciding, and doing within the boundaries defined by its tools, permissions, and objectives.