Definition
AI agent
An AI agent is a system that uses a model to pursue a goal through steps, tool calls, memory, or actions in other software. The risky part is not the word agent, but what permissions, data, approvals, and rollback paths it receives.
Last updated: 25 June 2026
Why it matters
Agents can create real leverage or real incidents because they move from answer generation to action.
Signals to watch
- The system plans steps
- Tools or APIs are called
- Human approval boundaries are explicit