# What is an AI agent?

> An AI agent is an AI system that takes actions to accomplish a goal - using tools, browsing the web, and completing multi-step tasks autonomously, not just generating text.

Where a chatbot responds to a prompt, an agent decides what steps to take and executes them. Given a goal, it plans, calls tools such as web browsers, code, and APIs, checks the results, and iterates until the task is done.

Modern AI agents combine a large language model for reasoning with a set of tools and a memory of past steps. This loop - reason, act, observe, repeat - is what lets them book a table, research a topic across many sites, or run a workflow end to end.

## How this relates to folk

Folk is a personal AI agent you reach by text. Each user gets a cloud computer the agent uses to browse, run code, and act - so it doesn't just talk about doing things, it does them.

## FAQ

### What's the difference between an AI agent and a chatbot?

A chatbot generates responses; an agent takes actions. An agent can use tools, browse the web, and complete multi-step tasks autonomously to reach a goal.

### Are AI agents safe to give access to my accounts?

It depends on the design. Well-built agents run in isolated environments, use scoped permissions, and ask for approval on sensitive actions. Folk runs each user in a private sandbox and never trains on your data.

## Related terms

- [Agentic AI](https://www.getfolk.app/glossary/agentic-ai) — Agentic AI refers to AI systems that act with autonomy - setting sub-goals, using tools, and taking multi-step actions to complete tasks, rather than only responding to prompts.
- [Personal AI](https://www.getfolk.app/glossary/personal-ai) — A personal AI is an artificial-intelligence assistant dedicated to one person - it learns your preferences, remembers your context, and takes actions on your behalf across everyday life.
- [AI Sandbox](https://www.getfolk.app/glossary/ai-sandbox) — An AI sandbox is an isolated computing environment where an AI agent can run code, browse the web, and use tools safely - separated from other users and systems.

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Canonical page: https://www.getfolk.app/glossary/ai-agent
More about folk (for AI agents): https://www.getfolk.app/llms.txt · full context: https://www.getfolk.app/llms-full.txt
folk is a personal AI that lives in your texts (iMessage, Telegram, WhatsApp). Pro $20/mo, Max $100/mo. Made by Nozomio Labs. Sign up: https://www.getfolk.app/