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Are companies misleading you by trying to sell you "AI agents"?
“AI agent” is the new buzzword, and it feels like every company is claiming they support them.
But just because a company integrates ChatGPT (or any LLM) via an API doesn’t mean they’re offering true AI agents.
Here’s the difference:
💡 Not an AI Agent: If you ask ChatGPT via an API to “write an email,” it simply does that—nothing more. That’s an API call, not an email agent.
💡 What Is an AI Agent?
An AI agent works autonomously. For example:
👉 You ask it to "Research Zomato and find the latest news."
An AI agent decides the steps it needs to take—searching online, reading articles, and compiling a report—all on its own, without needing you to manually configure each step.
So, next time someone tells you that they support autonomous AI agents, dig deeper! Are they truly autonomous or just rebranding API calls?
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Justin West
This is really insightful. It’s important to differentiate between API calls and true AI agents. Too many companies are using buzzwords to sound more advanced than they actually are.
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Spot on about the AI agent misconception. As someone who builds custom AI solutions, I've noticed this creates real challenges for business owners. The difference is crucial - true agents need to understand context, make decisions, and adapt their approach, much like a human assistant would. This 'agent washing' in the market reminds me of the early cloud computing days when everything suddenly became 'cloud-based.' What's most concerning is how this confusion might impact businesses making strategic AI investments.
You're right, Sayoni Dutta Roy. Many companies misuse the term "AI agent." True AI agents work autonomously, making decisions without constant input. Using ChatGPT via API for tasks like writing an email isn't the same as an autonomous agent. It's important for companies to clarify whether they offer true AI agents or just rebranded API calls.
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It is possible, but I prefer AI agents as last option when a simple solutions are enough to meet the routine requirements, we have to consider time, efforts and cost as well.
True, Sayoni. Agents differ from one-off stateless API calls in that they can take multiple actions on your behalf to achieve the desired goal. I like to create custom workflows with a tool like n8n. This way I can bring my own expertise and industry knowledge.
@pragadeesh_natarajan Yes n8n does support "AI agents". But I find it really difficult to use and a bit too complex. Do you also feel that?
@sayoni_dutta_roy n8n does indeed have a learning curve. Devs are n8n's ideal audience, which explains why you found it difficult to use. Try make.com then. It's much easier to use.