Learn · Glossary
What are AI agents?
Definition
An AI agent is an AI system that works toward a goal in steps: it plans, uses tools (search, code, other software), checks the results and decides what to do next, instead of answering once.
The loop
- Plan
- Break the goal into steps.
- Act
- Call a tool: search, run code, read a file.
- Observe
- Read what came back.
- Repeat
- Until the goal is met or it needs a person.
Where to be careful
Agents can take actions, so they need limits: which tools they may use, what needs a person's approval, and a record of what they did.
Questions
- Are chatbots agents?
- Not usually. A chatbot answers; an agent acts in steps with tools.
- Can I learn to build agents?
- Yes, in SparkLab's Advanced AI: RAG & Agentic Systems.
Keep reading
See SparkMentis with your own use case.
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll walk you through it live. Or write to us at info@sparkmentis.ai.