AI agent
In short
An AI agent is a program that uses an AI model to pursue a goal by deciding what to do, using tools such as search or a CRM, and acting on the results. It works in a loop: observe, decide, act, check.
An agent differs from a chatbot, which mainly answers questions, and from a script, which follows fixed steps. In GTM, agents typically handle bounded jobs such as research, list building, or drafting outreach.
What an AI agent consists of
- Model: The language model that reasons and writes.
- Instructions: The goal, rules, and tone it must follow.
- Tools: Connections to data sources and systems it can read from or write to.
- Memory and context: Information about the account, history, and task so far.
Types of agents in GTM
- Research agent: Collects and summarizes account information.
- Outreach agent: Drafts or sends messages, usually with approval.
- Data agent: Finds missing fields and keeps records clean.
- Routing agent: Assigns leads and flags priority accounts.
AI agent vs. AI copilot
A copilot assists a person who stays in control of each step. An agent carries out a task more independently. Many products blend both, so check how much approval each action needs.
How to evaluate an agent
Task fit
Pick a narrow job with clear success criteria and test on real examples.
Data quality
Check what it reads. An agent on stale contact data produces confident, wrong output.
Controls
Look for permission limits, approval steps, and action logs.
Common mistakes
- Broad goals: "Do my prospecting" is too vague. Define a specific task.
- No review: Skipping human checks early lets small errors spread.
AI agent FAQs
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is software that uses an AI model to work toward a goal by deciding its own steps, using tools and data, and acting on results. It operates in a loop of observing, deciding, acting, and checking.
What is the difference between an AI agent and a chatbot?
A chatbot mainly answers questions in conversation. An AI agent can also take actions, such as searching data, updating a CRM, or drafting a message, and it keeps working through several steps toward a goal.
What can an AI agent do in sales?
In sales, an AI agent can research accounts, find contacts, check ICP fit, draft outreach, log activity, and flag changes. Teams usually keep a person approving customer-facing messages and key record changes.
Are AI agents reliable?
Reliability depends on the task, data, and controls. Agents can make mistakes or state false information. Narrow tasks, good data, approval steps, and monitoring make them more dependable in practice.
