# AI Agent

> A software system that uses a language model to pursue a goal by reasoning, planning and taking actions through tools.

_The Agentic Web Lexicon · /glossary/ai-agent · [JSON](/api/glossary/ai-agent) · [all The Agentic Web Lexicon](/glossary)_

- **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:** — (verify-against-primary-at-build)
- **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