AI agents: an LLM, tools and a loop

What is an AI agent, and how is it different from a chatbot?

Agents and tool calling · about 5 minutes

An LLM on its own only writes. An agent is an LLM with tools, running in a loop: ask for a tool, read the result, decide what to do next, and stop when the job is done.

Sketch: Xiaohei stands inside a round track, holding a magnifying glass over a customer's letter; tools hang on hooks around the track, and its one exit is marked done