Introduction to AI Agents

AI agents are software entities that perceive their environment and take actions to achieve specified goals.

What Is an AI Agent?

An AI agent is defined by its ability to sense, reason, and act autonomously in a given environment.

Key Properties of AI Agents

AI agents typically exhibit:

• Autonomy
• Reactivity
• Proactiveness
• Social ability

How AI Agents Work

AI agents follow a cycle of perception, decision-making, and action.

Perception

They gather data from sensors or inputs.

Decision‑Making

They use algorithms—such as search, planning, or learning—to choose actions.

Action Execution

They carry out chosen actions and then re‑perceive the environment.

Types of AI Agents

Different architectures serve different use cases.

Reactive Agents

They respond directly to stimuli without internal state.

Deliberative Agents

They maintain internal models and plan ahead.

Conclusion

AI agents are fundamental building blocks for robotics, virtual assistants, autonomous vehicles, and more.