AI Agent
Module: agentic
What it is
An AI agent is an AI system that perceives its environment, makes decisions, and takes actions to achieve goals. Unlike a chatbot that responds to prompts, an agent operates more independently—browsing the web, writing and executing code, managing files, or interacting with other systems.
Why it matters
AI agents can accomplish complex tasks that would require many individual prompts. They're the foundation of AI automation—systems that work on your behalf. Understanding what makes something an agent helps you evaluate the capabilities and risks of increasingly autonomous AI tools.