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AI ‘agents’ aren’t matching up to the buzzwords

We should cool off comparing the technology to gods or even humans

    • The AI "agent” is often used to describe an AI system that can act autonomously and work with outside applications to complete increasingly complicated tasks.
    • The AI "agent” is often used to describe an AI system that can act autonomously and work with outside applications to complete increasingly complicated tasks. PHOTO: REUTERS
    Published Thu, Jul 24, 2025 · 07:00 PM

    THE biggest issue with the term artificial intelligence (AI) “agent” is that everyone seems to have a different definition for what it means.

    Most often, it is used to describe an AI system that can act autonomously and work with outside applications to complete increasingly complicated tasks. The buzziest example from Asia has been Manus, which went mega-viral earlier this year.

    But it has also morphed into a marketing buzzword, slapped onto everything from products that surf the Web on their own to bots that will eventually achieve human decision-making skills – and could be coming for your job.

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