Essential definitions for understanding modern AI tools and technologies.

AI / LLM

AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, making decisions, and solving problems.

LLM (Large Language Model) is a specific type of AI trained on vast amounts of text data to understand and generate human-like text. Examples include GPT-5, Claude, and Gemini. LLMs power most modern chatbots and AI assistants.

Chatbot

A chatbot is a conversational interface that uses AI (typically an LLM) to interact with users through text or voice. Chatbots respond to questions, provide information, and assist with tasks in a back-and-forth dialogue format. Examples include ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini.

Key characteristics:

• Responds to direct user prompts
• Engages in multi-turn conversations
• Provides information and assistance on demand

Agent

An agent is an AI system that can take autonomous actions to accomplish goals, often using multiple tools and making decisions without constant human guidance. Unlike chatbots that primarily respond to prompts, agents can:

• Break down complex tasks into steps
• Use external tools (APIs, databases, code execution)
• Make decisions about what actions to take next
• Work towards a goal over multiple interactions
• Interact with other systems and agents