AI glossary / Definition
AI Agent
An AI agent is a software system that uses an AI model to understand a goal, make decisions, take actions through tools, observe results, and continue working until it reaches an outcome or stopping condition.
Last reviewed July 30, 2026
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent goes beyond generating a single response. It can interpret a goal, decide what to do next, use tools when necessary, observe the result of an action, and continue until the task is complete.
Simple example
A travel-planning agent could understand your destination and dates, search for relevant information, compare options, adjust its plan based on results, and return a final recommendation.
Why AI agents matter
Agents turn AI models from passive answer generators into systems that can perform multi-step work toward a goal.