# AI agent
> An AI agent is software that can plan steps, use tools, and complete a bounded task with your permission.
Topics: AI, Apps
Difficulty: Everyday
Aliases: agentic AI, AI assistant
Updated: 2026-06-26T08:00:00.000Z
## In one analogy

Think of it like an assistant that can use a keyboard, not just answer from memory.

## Go deeper
An AI agent is software that can plan steps, use tools, and complete a bounded task with your permission. In everyday buying decisions, the useful question is not just what the spec says, but what it changes for comfort, cost, speed, safety, or battery life.