Agent

An agent is an entity that acts or exerts power, often with a degree of autonomy, to achieve goals. In technology, it typically refers to a software agent — a program that performs tasks, makes decisions, or interacts with environments or users on behalf of a person or system.

Examples include chatbots, AI assistants, or automated trading algorithms. Key traits include perception (sensing input), processing (analyzing information), and action (executing tasks). Agents can be simple (rule-based) or intelligent (adaptive and learning). In broader contexts, agents can also be humans acting as representatives, such as real estate or talent agents.