An AI agent is like a regular software agent that independently performs an action based on an external event, except that AI agents are part of an AI system. AI agents are extremely versatile. Not only can they access many sources such as a database or website, but they can learn by trial and error. The key to any agent, AI or otherwise, is that it can act on its own after an event occurs, which can be a query or message or even the time of day. See
agent.
AI agents are becoming popular because they add human-like decision making to traditional computer-based tasks. They not only handle routine functions such as handling customer requests or booking a trip but they can automatically refine their algorithms to improve their effectiveness the next time.
AI Agent vs. AI System
AI scientists are busy developing the next breakthrough formula, and like a lot of terminology in the tech world, terms are made up by different groups without regard to consensus.
The terms AI agent and AI system are often used synonymously, but AI developers may define them differently. However, there is general agreement that an AI agent falls within an AI system, the latter being the more comprehensive of the two, and there can be many agents within a system. However, there are articles about AI agents with little mention of an AI system. In addition, an AI system is commonly called just an "AI." For example, "an AI does this" or "an AI does that."
Replacing Everything?
In late 2024, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, said that AI agents are going to replace all software applications in the future. In other words, the business logic in traditional programs will be AI rather than if-then-else logic. Considering that Microsoft has made a fortune in business applications and Nadella's comment is a total reconstruction of the entire software industry, this is a very controversial prediction. Some experienced software architects have said this is complete nonsense. Nevertheless, by all accounts, we seem to be heading into a very different technological future. Stay tuned! See
AI anxiety and
if-then-else.