Assistants vs Agents

What it is

Assistants respond to requests—you ask, they answer. Agents pursue goals—you set an objective, they figure out how to achieve it. The distinction is about autonomy: assistants wait for instructions; agents take initiative within their defined scope.

Why it matters

The assistant-agent spectrum affects how you interact with AI. Assistants require more hands-on guidance but give you control at each step. Agents are more autonomous but require more trust and better error handling. Choose based on task complexity and your comfort with autonomy.