What an AI agent is, and isn't
A chatbot answers. An agent acts: it plans several steps, calls tools (database, API, ERP), checks intermediate results and carries tasks to completion, ideally with human-in-the-loop at critical points. Technically this rests on tool calling and protocols like the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Governance is not an afterthought
An agent with tool access is powerful, and potentially dangerous. Responsible platforms enforce audit logs, budget and quota limits, guardrails (PII protection, topic filters) and model allowlists. So it stays traceable what the agent did and when, important for internal audit and the EU AI Act.
Why 2026 is the year of agents
The market is shifting from single copilots to agentic automation of whole workflows. In the Mittelstand this creates measurable effects: drafting quotes, processing documents, bundling research. The key is to start small and controlled, one use case, clear limits, measurable value.