https://guides.derekleeds.cloud/tags/permissions/Recent content in Permissions on Derek's GuidesHugoenSat, 13 Jun 2026 13:00:53 -0500https://guides.derekleeds.cloud/docs/ai/what-ai-agents-actually-are/Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://guides.derekleeds.cloud/docs/ai/what-ai-agents-actually-are/<p>An AI chatbot answers questions.</p> <p>An AI agent can do things.</p> <p>That is the simplest difference.</p> <p>A chatbot might help you write an email. An agent might draft the email, find the recipient, attach the file, and ask whether it should send it.</p> <p>That extra ability is powerful. It is also where the safety conversation gets real.</p> <h2 id="the-short-version">The short version</h2> <p>An <strong>AI agent</strong> is an AI system that can:</p> <ol> <li>understand a goal,</li> <li>decide what steps might help,</li> <li>use tools,</li> <li>inspect the results,</li> <li>adjust its plan,</li> <li>and sometimes take action.</li> </ol> <p>A normal chatbot mostly talks.</p>