What is an AI agent, really?

An AI agent is software that can take a goal, plan steps, use tools, and check its own work. Here is what that means in practice, and where it still needs a human.

The short version

A chatbot answers. An agent acts. You give an agent a goal (“book a follow-up with everyone who missed yesterday’s call”), and it decides which steps to take, which tools to use, and when it is done.

What an agent is made of

Most agents combine three things: a language model that reasons in plain language, a set of tools it is allowed to use (email, a calendar, a spreadsheet, a web browser), and a loop that lets it try, check, and try again.

Where agents help today

Repetitive, rules-based work with a clear finish line: sorting inbound email, drafting replies for review, updating records, preparing reports, and following up on leads.

Where to keep a human in the loop

Anything that sends money, signs agreements, contacts customers for the first time, or touches sensitive data. Start with “draft and wait for approval” and loosen it only when you trust the results.

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