AI Agent
An AI that does not only answer you but can take actions to complete a task, such as searching the web, using other tools, and working through several steps on its own. Think of it as moving from an adviser who tells you what to do to an assistant who goes and does it. This kind of acting AI is called an AI agent.
A regular chat assistant answers your question and then waits for the next one. An AI agent goes further. Given a goal, it can plan the steps, use tools to carry them out, check how it is doing, and keep going until the task is done. It is the difference between asking for directions and having someone drive you there.
Imagine asking for help planning a weekend trip. A chatbot would suggest ideas and leave the doing to you. An agent might search for train times, compare a few hotels, and assemble a draft itinerary, taking several actions in a row without needing you to prompt each one. It is working towards the outcome, not only responding to a single message.
This is an exciting and fast-moving area, and it is worth being clear-eyed about it. Agents are genuinely useful for multi-step jobs, but because they act on their own, it is wise to keep an eye on what they are doing and to confirm anything important before it goes ahead. The technology is capable but still maturing.
At its core, an agent is usually a large language model given the ability to use tools and take actions, which is one of the more advanced directions in artificial intelligence today. If you have met a chatbot, you already have the foundation for understanding what an agent adds on top.