# AI agent

**Definition:** An AI agent is software that takes a goal, plans the steps, uses tools to carry them out and checks the result, instead of only answering a question. In a business, an agent might find unpaid invoices, draft reminders and send them, rather than just explaining how to chase payment.

A chatbot replies. An agent acts. The difference is tools: an agent can look up records, create documents, send messages or schedule posts through actions it is allowed to use, and it keeps going until the job is done or it needs a decision from you.

Good agents are limited on purpose. In Profynix every agent works through a typed list of tools and with the permissions of the person who asked, so it can never see or change more than that person could. Actions involving money, bulk messages, deletions or access changes always produce a preview card that a human approves.

## Related

- [Human in the loop](https://profynix.com/glossary/human-in-the-loop)
- [Profynix AI](https://profynix.com/features/ai-assistant)