{
  "dataset": "glossary",
  "record": {
    "id": "ai-agent",
    "term": "AI Agent",
    "category": "core",
    "short_def": "A software system that uses a language model to pursue a goal by reasoning, planning and taking actions through tools.",
    "long_def": "Unlike a single prompt-and-response, an agent runs a loop: it observes, decides on an action (often a tool call), executes it, observes the result, and repeats until the goal is met. Autonomy and tool use are the distinguishing features.",
    "see_also": [
      "tool-use",
      "agentic-loop",
      "mcp"
    ],
    "etymology_origin": {
      "value": null,
      "verify_status": "verify-against-primary-at-build",
      "source_hint": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_agent — 'agent' in AI predates LLMs (Russell & Norvig, AIMA, 1995); the modern LLM-agent sense has no single coiner"
    },
    "related_to": [
      "tool-use",
      "agentic-loop",
      "mcp",
      "agentic-web"
    ],
    "contrast_with": "Unlike a chatbot, which returns a single response to a prompt, an AI agent runs an autonomous observe-decide-act loop and takes actions through tools to reach a goal.",
    "example": "Claude Code and OpenAI's Operator (launched January 2025) are AI agents: they plan, call tools and iterate toward a goal rather than answering once.",
    "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_agent",
    "status": "active",
    "why_it_matters": "The AI agent is the first-class visitor the agentic web is built for; understanding it is the precondition for every readiness decision a site owner makes.",
    "sameAs": [
      "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_agent"
    ],
    "bridge_entity": "agentic-web",
    "last_verified": "2026-06-15",
    "md_twin": "/glossary/ai-agent.md"
  }
}