An AI agent is not simply a chatbot with better answers.
The real difference is whether it can pursue a goal, take action, and use the result to decide what happens next.
A chatbot usually answers the current request.
A fixed workflow follows predefined steps.
An agent can change its path as new information arrives.
It reads context, selects a tool, observes the result, and chooses the next move.
Think of three core parts.
The model makes decisions.
Context determines what it can see: the objective, rules, history, knowledge, and earlier tool results.
Tools determine what it can do: search, read business data, create a file, or operate software.
The feedback loop is what turns those parts into an operating system for a task.
But a capable model can still fail.
The objective may be vague.
Data may be outdated or contradictory.
The tool description may be unclear.
A tool error may be hidden.
Completion may never be verified.
And excessive permissions can turn a small mistake into a customer, payment, or publishing problem.
That is why a production agent needs more than a strong model.
It needs limits on what it can access, a record of what it did, checks against the expected result, and a clear route to retry, roll back, stop, or hand control to a person.
For an export team, the first pilot should be narrow, clear, verifiable, and recoverable.
Summarize inquiries and suggest follow-up actions, but do not send a quotation or promise a lead time.
Research public prospects with source links, but do not launch bulk outreach.
Check an article for evidence and structure, but keep publication under human review.
Before adoption, ask six questions.
What is the goal, and what counts as complete?
Which data can it access?
Which tools can it use?
What happens when a tool fails or sources conflict?
Who verifies the result?
When must a person take over?
Start with one verified loop, not maximum autonomy.
Give the agent only the information and permissions it needs.
Keep review and rollback available.
Expand only when real outcomes justify more scope and permission.