AI AgentsAI That Can Take Action
AI agents go beyond chatting — they can browse the web, write code, manage files, and complete complex tasks autonomously.
What Are AI Agents?
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is an AI system that can take actions on its own to accomplish goals. While ChatGPT waits for you to type and responds, an agent can browse websites, run code, send emails, and more — working autonomously toward an objective you give it.
How is this different from ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is like a very smart advisor who can only talk. An AI agent is like an assistant who can actually DO things — book appointments, research topics, write and run code, manage files.
Are AI agents safe?
It depends on how they're built. Good AI agents have guardrails, require approval for sensitive actions, and operate within defined boundaries. The field is still evolving.
The simple version: An AI agent is like having an AI intern who can actually do tasks for you — not just give advice, but take real actions in the digital world.
How Do AI Agents Work?
Agents follow a loop: plan → act → observe → adapt → repeat.
Receive Goal
You give the agent a high-level objective like "Research the top 5 project management tools and create a comparison document."
Plan Actions
The agent breaks down the goal into steps: search for tools, visit each website, extract features, compare them, write the document.
Execute Steps
The agent carries out each action: browses websites, reads content, makes notes, processes information.
Observe Results
After each action, the agent observes what happened and decides if it succeeded or needs to try a different approach.
Adapt & Continue
Based on results, the agent adjusts its plan if needed and continues until the goal is complete or it gets stuck.
Deliver Output
The agent presents the final result — in this case, a document comparing the project management tools.
What Can Agents Do?
The tools and actions available to AI agents.
Web Browsing
Search the internet, read websites, gather information
Code Execution
Write and run code to solve problems
File Management
Read, create, and modify documents
Communication
Send messages and manage correspondence
Tool Usage
Connect to and use various software tools
Multi-step Planning
Break down complex tasks and execute them step by step
Types of AI Agents
From simple chatbots to fully autonomous systems.
Conversational Agents
AI that can have extended conversations and remember context across interactions.
Maturity: Widely available
Task Automation Agents
AI that can complete specific tasks like scheduling, data entry, or simple research.
Maturity: Widely available
Coding Agents
AI that can write, debug, and modify code. Can work on entire features or projects.
Maturity: Rapidly improving
Research Agents
AI that can browse the web, synthesize information, and produce comprehensive reports.
Maturity: Available now
General-Purpose Agents
AI that can handle arbitrary tasks by combining multiple capabilities.
Maturity: Early stage
Multi-Agent Systems
Multiple AI agents working together, each specializing in different tasks.
Maturity: Experimental
Real-World Examples
Tasks that AI agents can handle from start to finish.
Travel Planning
Research destinations, compare flights, find hotels, and create a complete itinerary.
Competitive Research
Analyze competitors, gather pricing info, and create a market analysis report.
Code Project Setup
Create a new project with proper structure, dependencies, and configuration.
Content Creation
Research a topic, outline key points, write an article, and format it properly.
Important Limitations
Reliability Issues
Agents can get stuck, make mistakes, or go in wrong directions.
Tip: Start with simple tasks and supervise agent work.
Cost
Agents often make many AI calls to complete tasks, which can add up quickly.
Tip: Use agents for valuable tasks where time savings justify the cost.
Security Risks
Giving AI access to your computer, email, or accounts introduces risk.
Tip: Use sandboxed environments and limit agent permissions.
Hallucinations
Like all LLMs, agents can confidently do the wrong thing or make up information.
Tip: Verify agent outputs, especially for critical actions.
AI Agents You Can Try Today
Tools with agent capabilities available right now.
Claude
Can use computer control to browse and interact with software.
ChatGPT
Can browse the web, run code, and create files with plugins/GPTs.
Perplexity
Research agent that searches and synthesizes information from the web.
GitHub Copilot
Coding agent that can write, edit, and explain code in your IDE.
Cursor
AI code editor with agent capabilities for building entire features.
Zapier AI
Automation agent that can create and run workflows across apps.
Ready to Try AI Agents?
Start with simple tasks and see what AI agents can accomplish. The technology is evolving rapidly!