AI Agent
Definition
An AI agent is a system that uses a language model to autonomously plan and execute multi-step tasks by interacting with tools, APIs, and environments. Unlike simple chatbots, agents can browse the web, write and run code, manage files, and chain multiple actions to achieve complex goals. The agent paradigm is considered a key step toward more capable and autonomous AI systems.
How It Works
The agent operates in a loop: it receives a goal, uses the LLM to decompose it into subtasks, selects and invokes appropriate tools via function calling, observes the results, and iterates until the goal is met. Memory systems store conversation history and intermediate results, while guardrails prevent unsafe actions. Frameworks like LangChain, CrewAI, and Claude's tool-use enable developers to build custom agents.