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GlossaryWhat are AI agents?
An AI agent does not stop at an answer. It plans steps, uses tools and systems, and helps get work done, within the rules you set.
In short
An AI agent is an AI system that pursues a goal by planning steps, using tools such as search, APIs and business systems, and carrying out tasks, instead of only answering a single question. Agentic AI is the use of such agents in business processes. Agentic AI is only as effective as the quality of the data and context it receives: governed agents work from verified enterprise data, respect permissions and leave a traceable record of every action.
On this page
How do AI agents get things done?
Tools
AI agents are connected to enterprise data sources, APIs, and business systems. They gather information, trigger workflows, and select the right tools for each task.
Memory
Agents track what has already happened and capture the essence of each interaction, and draw on these memories when faced with a new challenge.
Planning
An AI agent breaks large goals into smaller, manageable steps and determines what needs to happen next, without waiting for human guidance.
Autonomous task execution
AI agents carry out multi-step tasks such as research, comparison, drafting, and summarization, without manual hand-offs between tools.
Cross-system orchestration
Instead of switching between CRM, ERP, intranet, and file shares, AI agents work across all connected systems from a single point of entry.
Knowledge-grounded reasoning
AI agents reason over your organization’s actual knowledge graph and documents, not generic web data, which reduces the risk of hallucination and increases trust.
AI assistant, AI agent or multi-agent system?
| Type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| AI assistant | Answers a question on request | Summarise this contract |
| AI agent | Plans and carries out a task with tools | Prepare a support case from CRM, mail and documents |
| Multi-agent system | Several specialised agents work together on parts of a task | One agent retrieves, one compares, one checks permissions, one starts the workflow |
What makes AI agents trustworthy?
- Trusted context: agents work with verified, relevant enterprise data, not generic web data.
- Permissions: every action respects the access rights of the user.
- Traceability: every agent action is logged and can be audited.
- A human in the loop: approval for steps with impact, such as sending or signing.
- A clear scope: each agent has a defined role and set of tools.
AI agents with Mindbreeze
Mindbreeze Insight Touchpoints are role-specific, pre-built AI agents, and Mindbreeze Insight Journeys combine them into reusable, multi-step workflows. They work from the trusted context of Mindbreeze InSpire, within the permissions of each user.
SoftAdvice helps you choose a first use case, prepares the data foundation in M-Files or SharePoint and builds the first agents with your team.
Mindbreeze Insight Workplace · Agentic AI and Context Engineering
Frequently asked questions about AI agents
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is an AI system that pursues a goal by planning steps, using tools such as search, APIs and business systems, and carrying out tasks, instead of only answering a single question.
What is agentic AI?
Agentic AI is AI that pursues goals and carries out multi-step tasks with tools, instead of only generating text. It works best with trusted enterprise context.
What is the difference between an AI assistant and an AI agent?
An AI assistant answers a question when you ask it. An AI agent works towards a goal: it plans steps, uses tools and systems, and carries out the task.
Are AI agents safe to use with company data?
They can be, when they are governed: working from verified enterprise data, respecting permissions and logging every action, so that every agent action is traceable, permission-aware and based on verified enterprise data.
What is a multi-agent system?
A multi-agent system brings together specialized AI agents that collaborate on different parts of a task. One agent may retrieve relevant information, another may analyze or compare content, another may check context and permissions, and another may trigger a workflow.
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