https://www.fernandoux.com/tags/interaction-design/Recent content in Interaction-Design on Fernando RuizHugoen-ushttps://www.fernandoux.com/en/wiki/ai/agent-vs-assistant-vs-copilot/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.fernandoux.com/en/wiki/ai/agent-vs-assistant-vs-copilot/<div class="info-panel"> <div class="info-header"> <span class="material-symbols-outlined info-panel-icon">info</span> <span class="info-panel-label">Quick Definition</span> </div> <div class="info-content"> An AI <strong>assistant</strong> answers a request and leaves the next decision to the person. An AI <strong>copilot</strong> works alongside them inside their task and offers suggestions in context. An AI <strong>agent</strong> receives a goal, runs several steps with tools and only returns when it finishes or needs a human decision. </div> </div> <h2 id="where-is-the-line">Where is the line?</h2> <p>The difference is not in the brand or the technology. It is in who runs the steps. In an assistant, the person does almost all the work and the AI answers. In a copilot, the person keeps carrying the work and the AI proposes the next step without taking it. In an agent, the AI decides and runs steps on its own, uses tools and adjusts what it does based on the results.</p>