Quick definition · 2 min AI term

AI agent

An AI agent is an AI that can take actions on its own: not just answer, but use tools, run steps, and work toward a goal.

Think of it like

A chatbot answers your question. An agent is an intern you hand a task to, who then goes and does the steps.

Example

“Find the cheapest flight and book it” given to an agent means it searches, compares, and acts, instead of just describing how.

Why it matters

Agents are the biggest shift in AI right now. Knowing the word is the start of understanding where the field is heading.

Where you’ll see it
ClaudeChatGPTCursorZapier
Go deeper Learn AI Agents → The full explainer. This quick definition is just the on-ramp. Next step Learn AI Agents → From a single tool call to a working agent. ← All terms in the dictionary