---
Title: "What Is an AI Agent? Definition, Types, Examples"
Url: "https://computer.io/glossary/ai-agent"
Topic: "Agentic AI"
Description: "An AI agent is software that uses AI to understand goals, plan steps and take actions with tools to complete tasks. How agents work, types and examples."
---

# What is an AI agent?

An AI agent is software that uses AI, typically a large language model, to understand a goal, plan the steps, use tools and data to take actions, and check results until the task is done. Unlike a chatbot that only replies, an agent can actually do work in other systems.

## How it works

1. Receives a goal.
2. Gathers context and memory.
3. Plans steps.
4. Calls tools or APIs.
5. Observes results and adjusts.
6. Hands off or reports.

## Types

| Type | Example |
| --- | --- |
| Customer service agent | Resolves tickets |
| IT agent | Grants access |
| Coding agent | Writes code |
| Research agent | Gathers information |
| Multi-agent system | Agents working together |

## FAQ

### What is the difference between an AI agent and a chatbot?

Chatbots mainly converse; agents plan and take actions.

### Are AI agents safe?

With permissions, approvals, audit trails and testing.

### What are examples of AI agents?

Customer support agents, coding assistants and IT automation agents.

## Related terms

- [Agentic AI](https://computer.io/glossary/agentic-ai)
- [Autonomous agent](https://computer.io/glossary/autonomous-agent)
- [AI teammate](https://computer.io/glossary/ai-teammate)
- [How do AI agents work?](https://computer.io/answers/how-do-ai-agents-work)

## How Computer helps

- [Meet computer](https://devrev.ai/meet-computer)
- [Agent studio](https://devrev.ai/agent-studio)
- [How computer works](https://computer.io/how-computer-works)

## Compare

- [Devrev vs chatgpt](https://devrev.ai/compare/devrev-vs-chatgpt)

## Further reading

- [What are ai agents](https://devrev.ai/blog/what-are-ai-agents)
- [Ai agents for customer support](https://devrev.ai/blog/ai-agents-for-customer-support)