A software program powered by AI that can take actions on its own. Unlike a chatbot that just answers questions, an agent can use tools, read files, call APIs, make decisions, and complete multi-step tasks. Give it a goal, and it figures out the steps.
Why it matters
Agents are the building blocks of every AI team. Understanding what they can and cannot do is the starting point for everything else.
Related terms
Agent Army
A team of specialized AI agents that work together inside one organization. Each agent has a clear job, clear tools, and clear ...
Authority Boundary
A clear line that defines what an AI agent is allowed to do and what it must not do. Includes tool access, decision rights, dol...
Multi-Agent System
Any setup where more than one AI agent operates in the same environment, sharing data and handing off tasks. Two agents is a mu...
Build with this on OTP
OTP encodes coordination intelligence so AI agent teams can run on it. If this term shows up in your team's playbook, it belongs in your OOS.
Found an issue with this definition? Tell us and we'll fix it.