An assistant responds. An agent acts. That is the short version, and it is enough for most conversations.
| AI assistant | AI agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Input | An instruction | An objective |
| Steps | One turn at a time | Plans and executes several |
| Tools | Sometimes | Central to how it works |
| Human role | Drives every step | Reviews outcomes and exceptions |
Why the distinction matters
The moment software can take multi-step action on your behalf, the questions change. Not 'is the answer good?' but 'what is it allowed to do, what does it log, and who approves the irreversible step?'
A simple rule
Use an assistant when judgement stays with you. Use an agent when the process is well defined, the exceptions are visible, and someone owns the outcome.
#AI Agents#LLM#Automation
About the Author
Kirandeep Kaur
I explore technology, simplify complex ideas, and share what I learn along the way — mostly SAP, AI and enterprise tech, sometimes everything else.
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