Ask HN: What makes an AI system an "agent" vs. just software with if-then logic?

1 Jimmc414 3 7/11/2025, 5:14:55 PM

If we stripped away all anthropomorphic language and described these systems purely in terms of inputs, outputs, and computational processes, would the category of 'agent' still be useful?

Comments (3)

PaulHoule · 13h ago

I think an "agent" is a role, not a technology.

You could make an "agent" that is powered by an LLM, you could make an "agent" based on production rules, expert systems and all that. You could combine these things.

A critical thing is the mixed initative nature. It is not like you type

   > 5 + 5

and it says

but rather you have a conversation that goes back and forth and then it takes some action in the world and gets notifications and does things and then at some point gets back to you to tell you what it found or ask what you think about this or that.

ashwinsundar · 12h ago

agent is an AI buzzword. It's a black box for a non-deterministic system, with some deterministic connections and wrappers around the whole thing to simulate "security" and "guardrails"

weare138 · 11h ago

Software that can screw things up on it's own.

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Ask HN: What makes an AI system an "agent" vs. just software with if-then logic?

Comments (3)