Glossary term
AI agent
A system in which a language model decides which actions to take, calls tools to take them and uses the results to choose its next step.
An AI agent combines a model with tools such as search, databases or business APIs, and a loop that lets it plan, act and observe results until a goal is reached or a stopping rule applies.
Agents suit tasks whose steps cannot be fixed in advance. For known processes, a workflow with AI steps is usually more predictable and cheaper.
Related terms
- Agentic workflowA business process in which AI components plan or execute some steps, usually alongside fixed steps and human approvals.
- Tool callingA model capability to request structured calls to external functions or APIs, whose results are returned to the model.
- Human-in-the-loopA design in which people review, approve or correct AI outputs or actions at defined points.
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