What Is an AI Agent? › What Makes Something an Agent?

An AI agent is a program powered by artificial intelligence that can:

1. Perceive what you need (understand your instructions or goals)
2. Decide what actions to take (reason about the best approach)
3. Act to achieve the goal (use tools, gather information, or make changes)
4. Adapt based on results (adjust its approach if something doesn't work)

The key word here is autonomy: the ability to operate independently toward a goal without constant human guidance. An agent doesn't just respond. It takes initiative to accomplish objectives.

This autonomy exists on a spectrum. Some agents need approval before each action (like asking "Should I send this email?"). Others operate more independently, making multiple decisions before reporting back. The right level depends on the task's stakes and your comfort with delegation.

Let's make this concrete with an example.