Comparison
AI agent vs chatbot
Use a chatbot when the output is text a human will read. Use an agent when the software must call tools. Most products need a chatbot plus two or three tools—not a general autonomous employee.
| Chatbot | Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Does | Answers, drafts, explains | May retrieve, file, route, or trigger APIs |
| Risk | Wrong advice | Wrong action in another system |
| Control | Prompt, retrieval, review | Tool list, approvals, traces |
What is an AI agent? · Agent development
Questions
Should we start with an agent?
Usually no. Start with retrieval and a chatbot. Add tools when a named workflow is stable enough to evaluate.
If the problem maps to work we actually ship, we will say so in 20 minutes.
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