Copilots and agents

Traditional chatbots have undergone significant evolution, transitioning into more sophisticated forms such as copilots, agents, and autonomous agents. In this section, we aim to compare and contrast these advanced chatbot types, exploring their roles and utilization in contemporary applications.

Figure 6.2 – Evolution from chatbots to autonomous agents

Agents are skilled assistants and, in the context described, are pieces of code equipped with AI capabilities. They are designed to complete tasks by interacting with users through applications or other interfaces. Initially, they gather information from users and subsequently utilize this data to execute actions, which may include feeding it into LLMs or a sequence of LLMs, among other possibilities.

For example, a data analyst agent can analyze your Excel sheets by asking for your raw Excel file and any other questions it may have; then, it will generate its own plan of action...