You are planning a trip, so you ask a chatbot what to consider. It suggests looking at transport, accommodation and your budget. That is useful, but you still need to find and compare the options.
If the assistant has the right tools, you might instead ask it to research options and prepare a draft itinerary. If the product supports those actions and you allow them, it can work through more of the task. That is the sort of behaviour people usually mean by an AI agent.
Where does one end and the other begin?
The names are not always neatly separated. You can talk to an agent in a chat window, and some chatbots can use tools too. The useful question is what your assistant can actually do: answer a question, search for information, work with a file or take an action in another service.
Having a chat box does not automatically mean it can see your calendar or send an email. That depends on the product and its settings.
Which one should you use?
For a quick explanation or a draft message, a chat may be enough. If a task involves gathering and comparing information, an agent with suitable tools may save you some work.
Either way, check important details. With a travel plan, go back to the provider for the latest departure time and price. If an assistant can make a booking or send a message, make sure you know what it will do before approving it.
Want to think through your own task? Try the AI task chooser.
Continue reading
What Is an AI Agent? A Plain-English Explanation
Can AI Agents Work Together?
What Happens When AI Agents Start Sharing Information?
Can AI Act on Its Own?