An AI agent carries out a multi-step task on its own, carrying intermediate results forward across steps — unlike a chat assistant, which responds to each input in isolation.
Difference from chat. An agent pursues a goal across several steps and makes simple intermediate decisions.
Example flow. Draft intake → propose category and suppliers → generate pricing sheet structure → prepare invitation, as one connected run.
Approval points. A person confirms before anything goes external, particularly to suppliers.
Limits. No award decision, no negotiation; performance depends on data structure.