A chatbot usually answers in one turn. An agent can use tools across several steps, so its actions, access and stop conditions must be designed in advance.
What does an agent include?
At a basic level, an agent has a goal, an inference model, a set of tools it can use, and rules that determine when to stop or ask a human. Input data, access rights, and how results are recorded are also part of the design.
For example, an agent supporting internal request processing can find instructions, summarize relevant information, and suggest next steps. Taking important actions should be limited by permission and may require user confirmation.
Start with a small process
Choose a job with relatively clear inputs and results. Determine what data the agent is allowed to read, what actions need to be approved, how to handle missing information, and how to measure quality.
A useful agent is not necessarily a fully automated agent. Good design helps humans understand what the agent did, why, and when to intervene.
Stay in control
Least privilege, output checks, activity logs and a stop mechanism are essential in real applications. Start small, observe the results, then expand when the workflow is reliable.
