What are AI agents-and how do they work?

So-called AI agents are considered a new business model. Chatgpt developer Openai presented a number of tools with which companies can create individual AI assistants. But what are AI agents and how do they work?

Artificial intelligence is currently developing rapidly. Always new trends and developments conquer the industry. For 2025, AI agents are at the top of the trend list. Many managers assume that AI agents will be the next big thing in the industry, as a survey by the consulting company Capgemini shows.

Accordingly, 70 percent of managers from twelve different industries have AI assistants for 2025 at the top of the note. In the insurance sector, the number is even 85 percent, in retail 81 percent of managers see an important trend in AI agents.

Operator: Openaai brings AI agents to Germany

Chatgpt mother group Openai also mixes in the agent thriller. In January the company presented the AI ​​agent operator. This is able to use his own browser “to do tasks for you”. This can be, for example, the weekend shopping (online) or expense reports.

However, the system behind Operator offers only a few options for changes and adjustments. For this reason, Openai has presented various new tools and APIs with which other companies should be able to create their own individual AI agents.

The Chatgpt Group primarily wants to simplify the development of agent applications. Tools such as a web search, file search or computer use were integrated into the Responses API. “These tools are supposed to work together to combine models with the real world and make them more useful when completing tasks,” says the company.

Openai also filed for user -friendliness. For example, a uniform design based on elements should simplify the application. However, extensive technical knowledge is required for the creation of AI agents.

In the coming months, the company plans to publish other tools that should accelerate and simplify programming. The operator is now also available in Germany after the introduction to the United States-but so far only for Chatgpt Pro users.

What are AI agents?

AI agents have nothing to do with news services or espionage-even if it may sound first. According to Openaai, these agents are “systems that independently do tasks on behalf of users”.

Currently, these are still relatively simple orders. For example, AI agents in companies can take over the order of office material. An agent can carry out this task independently and without the training of human hands.

That means: AI agents can act autonomously. They are also able to make decisions or to communicate with other agents – as far as intended. In the future, hyper-personally AI assistants could arise from these developments.

However, a AI agent would need access to numerous personal data. By accessing calendars, contacts, messages or emails, such an assistant could get an idea of ​​different personal relationships. Then it would be an easy one for him, for example, to automatically send personalized birthday greetings to friends and relatives.

Are AI agent the next big thing?

In the work context, processes could be simplified and accelerated by linking various AI agents. Because the digital assistants should be able to compare calendars with those of colleagues and thus submit suggestions for possible meeting appointments.

In preparation for such an appointment, it would then be possible that a AI agent evaluates all documents and messages for a project and prepared for the participants. So far, these developments are still pure future music. The further development also depends on regulatory framework.

For Kirsten Rulf, digital expert at Boston Consulting Group, it is also crucial for “how society, politics and business work together to use the technology responsibly and sustainably”.

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