What is an AI agent?
A plain-English definition, with a real example from a small business.
Geoff BromilowAI systems developerUpdated 1 min readDefinition
An AI agent is software that uses AI to understand a request, decide on the steps and take actions in other systems to complete a task.
At a glance
- Also called
- AI assistant
- Good for
- Handling tasks end to end
In plain English
It’s like a capable assistant that can read, write and click through your tools — within the limits you set.
An example
A digital receptionist answers a call, works out what the caller needs, books the appointment and sends a confirmation SMS.
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Questions people ask
Yes, so we set clear limits, keep a person in the loop for anything important, and log every action it takes.
Related terms
Geoff builds the AI systems, automations and integrations behind our projects — and explains them without the jargon.
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