agent

An AI agent is a piece of software designed to observe its surroundings, process that information, decide what to do next based on its goals, and then perform actions in its environment. It's more than just a typical AI program because it has an element of autonomy and intentionality, working towards specific objectives.

Agents can be very simple, like a thermostat agent that senses temperature and turns a heater on or off, or incredibly complex, such as an AI assistant that manages your schedule, writes emails, and researches information across the internet. The key idea is that an agent operates with a degree of independence, reacting to changes and pursuing its objectives without constant human instruction.

While the concept has been around for a while in computer science, the rise of powerful large language models has supercharged what agents can do. Modern AI agents can plan multi-step tasks, use a variety of tools, and even learn from their experiences, making them increasingly capable of handling complex challenges in the real world.