Chatbots Defined
Chatbots are conversational interfaces designed to simulate human dialogue. They excel at answering questions and guiding users through predefined flows.
AI Agents Defined
AI agents are autonomous systems that can perceive, reason, plan, and act to accomplish goals. They don't just talk -they do.
Key Differences
| Capability | Chatbot | AI Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Conversation | Yes | Yes |
| Task Execution | Limited | Full |
| Multi-Step Workflows | No | Yes |
| System Integration | Basic | Deep |
| Autonomous Action | No | Yes |
When to Use Each
Use Chatbots For:
- Simple Q&A
- Information lookup
- Basic customer service
Use AI Agents For:
- Complex workflows
- Multi-system tasks
- Autonomous operations
The Future
The line is blurring as chatbots gain agent capabilities. The future is conversational agents that can both talk and act.