The Shift from Assistants to Agents
For years, we've treated AI as a fancy search engine or writing assistant. That era is ending.
The new paradigm is agents — AI systems that don't just respond to prompts but take autonomous action. They execute multi-step workflows. They make decisions. They get things done while you're asleep.
What Makes an Agent Different
A chatbot waits for you to ask. An agent acts.
1. Tool use — Agents can call APIs, browse the web, write and execute code
2. Planning — They break complex goals into steps and execute them
3. Memory — They maintain context across interactions
4. Autonomy — They operate without constant human oversight
Getting Started
1. Start small — Pick one repetitive workflow. Build or deploy an agent to handle it.
2. Learn the tools — Understand what's possible with current agent capabilities.
3. Think in workflows — Instead of "AI that answers questions," think "AI that completes processes."
4. Plan for change — The way work gets done is fundamentally shifting.
The agents are already running. The question is whether you're deploying them or competing against them.